Chapter four : A Little Girl's Dream

"Thanks a lot ! Little Gil !" Meliodas leaped off the floor with a cheeky smile on his face. "Baste Prison and the Necropolis, huh ? I'll go check out one or the other." Gilthunder didn't falter seeing the relaxed attitude of the blond, instead he just nodded his head.
"I see. You deliberately took my blow to learn the whereabouts of your fellow Sins."
"We'll finish this some other time, 'kay ?"
"I think not." From then on, every attack the pink haired knight threw Meliodas' way was dodged. When he landed next to Diane's feet, he readied himself to throw another strike.
"This is goodbye."
"Yeah, I'll catch you later." Meliodas waved. And watched Diane lift Gilthunder in her hand.
"Let go of me." He unleashed his power, only affecting the canon around her wrist.
"Didn't I teach you a long time ago ? Girls despise guys who shock them !" She threw him far away from the forest, so they wouldn't have to deal with him anymore. Meliodas waved him goodbye, and turned to his friend, lifting his head, so he could see her.
"Thank you, Diane." He looked at her wrist and pointed it out. "Woah, that vambrace is ruined." She looked down at it and pouted, before rubbing her wrist sadly.

This is a tale of ancient times... an era before the human and non-human worlds were forever divided. When the Holy Knights defended the realm wielding their magical powers, they were feared and highly respected. But among them, a group emerged that betrayed the kingdom and become mortal enemies to all Holy Knights. They were known throughout the land...as "The Seven Deadly Sins".

"You have some nerve doing that to me, you swine !" Hawk screamed at the now, long gone knight. "It'll be my turn to do that to you, next time !"
"Are you both alright."
"Yep."
"Huh, where'd the swine go ?"
"Aren't you the swine ?" Meliodas joked.
"You smell good !" Diane wiped the drool that almost fell from her mouth at the sight of the pig. Hawk shuddered, and Elizabeth comforted him, albeit, laughing, but your eyes were locked on Meliodas, who's shirt was now drenched in blood. You ran to him and stopped yourself from touching him before you could hurt him even more.
"Sir Meliodas ! You're hurt !"
"This is nothing, don't worry." He shrugged.
"Still, look at all this blood !"
"Hey ! Stop being so clingy with the Captain !" Diane bent down to sound more clear, as if her voice wasn't loud enough. "Being by his side is my job, got it ?" She pointed to herself with her thumb. "I'll be the one to tend to his wounds !"
"Hey, I got kicked real hard by that guy ! Right in the ass !" Meliodas was kneeling next to the pig in an instant, and started groping him.
"Here ?"
"Those are my spare ribs."
"Here then ?"
"That's my pork shoulder, now you're just doing it on purpose !" He exploded at his friend.
"I'll put a cold compress on your burn right when we get back to the tavern, Hawk." The pig ran into your arms, and you tried your best to hug him back and ignore the height difference.
"You're the only one who actually cares about me, ___ !"
"Hey ! I'm here too !" Elizabeth opened her arms to him, but he turned his head the other way.
"Yeah, but at least she isn't so rough when she pets me !"

You put down a drenched cold cloth on Hawk's body burn, and watched as steam evaporated from it, due to the difference in temperature.

"Oh, that hits the spot ! That Holy Knight bastard... The next tie I see you, I'll make you pay !" He noticed both you and Elizabeth were silent, so he looked at your faces and saw how defeated you looked. "Oh, sorry. You said you knew him, right ?"
"Yes. He was originally assigned as our older sister Margaret's guard, he was like an older brother and looked after us like we were his own blood."
"Even after the death of his father, who was the Holy Knight's Grand Master, he continued to serve us without a fault. So why..." Images of what happened in Vanya flashed through your mind, you couldn't believe the sweet boy you had once shared a home with could do such things. The memory of when you and Elizabeth had to leave your father came to you, you remembered a thunder like power blasting open the door, and a terrible thought took over you. "No... was he also the one who took father hostage ?"
"What's the matter girls ?" Hawk inquired worriedly.
"There really is no going back to the way things were, is there ?"

You walked outside the tavern to see Meliodas jump off of Diane's shoulder.
"It's settle then ! We're going to Baste Prison first to pick up Ban !"
"What made you decide on Baste ?" Elizabeth's voice was quieter in your head.
"I'm against this !" Everyone turned to you in confusion. "The most important thing right now, is to tend to your wounds ! You can't risk getting into another fight with a Holy Knight in your state." In an instant, Meliodas had kneeled down and stuffed his face in your underwear.
"This will definitely make me feel better." You frowned for a second, but let him do whatever he felt like doing because he was still injured.
"Get off her !"
"___." He patted your head delicately. "Don't worry about me. This is nothing. A little nap and I'll be just fine. G'night !" You watched him get back inside the bar, still not fully convinced he was going to be okay with just sleep.
"Knowing him, I for sure thought he'd ask you to sleep next to him."
"I'm going to check on him."
"And sleep with him ?" Elizabeth hit Hawk's back with her right hand, making him hiss from the pain of his previous burn.
You ran inside the tavern, and towards the captain's room.

"Sir Meliodas ? Can you handle getting changed by yourself ?" You gently knocked on the wooden door. When he didn't answer, and you didn't hear any noise coming from the other side of the door, you slowly pushed it open. Your breath got caught in your throat as you looked down and saw the blond man laying in a puddle of his own blood. "Sir Meliodas..." You called out to your sister for help, so you could carry him to Diane without worsening his injuries. Once he was in the giant's hand, you hasted to get to the closest village to tend to the captain. Diane was walking through Dalmally, a village situated about eight kilometers from Baste Prison, with her captain in her hands.
"Excuse me ? I need he-" Diane asked when she encountered a small group of humans.
"It's a giant !" Screams of terror rang throughout the village, parents grabbed their kids, and soon, everyone had run away.
"Wait ! I just want to find a doctor !" The Serpent Sin sadly looked down at her friend.
Hawk, Elizabeth and you had run and caught up to Diane and Meliodas, but you were out of breath. "I told you so !" Shrieked the pig.
"Lady Diane ! We can look for a doctor while you keep him safe !" You tried to get a glimpse of the blond, but Diane was holding him too close to herself for anyone else to see him.
"No, I'm the one that's going to help him !"
Seeing her outburst, Elizabeth tried to convince her to accept your help. "Look, Diane-"
"Everyone's gonna run away the second they see you !" Diane's glare hardened at Hawk's words, and you angrily looked down at your pig friend, he was so amazing, but so blunt with his words. Diane looked down at her hands and sighed.
"Alright, you go find a doctor, and I'll stay here." You all nodded your head yes and the giant sat down on her knees, worriedly looking at her captain.

Once you had found a doctor, doctor Dana was his name, he allowed you to set Meliodas into a room in his house. Diane was sitting in front of the window outside, and the rest of you were sitting next to Meliodas' bed.
You watched the doctors brew herbs inside a kettle like recipient, he stirred them well and after a few minutes, picked it back up. He brought the end of the recipient to the blond's mouth to make him drink it.
"This medicine is my very own concoction. It will take away his pain for good."
You looked up at the older man and smiled at him while Elizabeth talked to him. "Thank you very much, Doctor Dana."

"Truthfully, it's a miracle he's alive at all. In addition to the very deep sword wound, he's covered in electrical burns, almost like lightning had struck upon him. How could a child get such injuries ?" The doctor bid you goodbye and left the room. Elizabeth was intently staring at Meliodas while you were dipping a cloth in cold water to cool him down.
"It's my fault, isn't it Ellie ? We wanted to stop the Holy Knights, and the only thing I had in mind to do that was to gather the Seven Deadly Sins. And now, he's risked himself to learn about their whereabouts." Your sister and pig friend both saw your tears fall into the bucket of water, but before they could say anything but your name, you were already wiping them. "I'm sorry." You took the cloth out of the water and delicately placed it on Meliodas' forehead. "Sir Meliodas, get better quick, okay ?"
"So what happens now ?"
"We should wait until he wakes up, Baste Prison can wait." Elizabeth explained crossing her legs.
"I'll go to Baste myself." Diane, who had her hand under her chin and a rather gloomy look on her face, cut you off. "The captain will want to go to Baste right away once he wakes up." She stood up from her place and turned in direction to the prison. "I can't let him do that, not before he's fully healed." You ran to her, in hopes she'd stop and listen to you.
"Lady Diane ! We'll go with you !"

"I don't want you bothering me." She answered simply without even turning back to face you. "I mean, look at your tiny bodies, and those spindly arms. How could you possibly be of any help ? I think it's better if you just stick to changing the captain's washcloth and being his nurse." Elizabeth could tell this wasn't aimed at her, so she attempted to take your defense.
"Hey ! Is that any way to talk to her ?!"
"Not everyone in this world is as big and strong as you." Hawk joined in.
However, when Diane turned to glare at him, he shuddered and hid, while Elizabeth held her head high and looked at the giant right in the eyes.
"I too want to do something to help Sir Meliodas. I don't want to cause him any more trouble. I don't want him to risk himself again like he did because of m-" Diane's feet got slammed right in front of you, allowing dust get into your eyes.
"Don't read too much into it ! The captain didn't risk himself for you !" The giant stood straighter and looked down, though not looking at you. "He's always... he's always been like that with me, too."
"Lady Diane..."
"It was back when I'd left my hometown to travel on my own. I got into an argument with an order of knights over something stupid. That was the first time I ever heard anyone ask me if I was okay. To a girl that was so much bigger than him, too. I remember it as if it was yesterday, I remember feeling that I was the exact same size as the boy in front of me. Of course, I knew what I felt was just a delusion. I'll never be as small, or as dainty as you, I can't even fit in that building to tend to him. But if there is one thing I know how to do for him, it's fighting. That's about all."
"I wish I had the strength to fight the Holy Knights, the strength to protect those I care about." Your head lowered in sadness, and your fists closed and tightened.
"I wish... I was small."

"Lady Diane..."
She stopped twirling the strand of hair she had around her index finger and suddenly looked up. You did too, noticing the change in her eyes. Coming towards the village was a huge black cloud.
"It's coming from Baste Prison..."
"Is that... a rain cloud ?" Elizabeth questioned.
"No, that sound... it's..."
"Bugs ? It can't be..."
"Even worse ! A huge swarm of poisonous insects !" The insects started spitting a green substance that burned everything it touched, from stone, to people. You grabbed Elizabeth's hand and pulled her along with you.
"Do you think this is an attack from Baste Prison ?"
Trotting at your side was Hawk, who was also trying his best to avoid the bugs and their venom. "So a Holy Knight is behind this ?! Diane ! These guys are all yours !"
"But I hate bugs !" She dropped to her knees, covering her face with her arms. Elizabeth, Hawk and you had hidden under a small bridge, and were trying to get a look at the situation without getting harmed.
"Not good... at this rate the whole town gonna be wiped out !" Elizabeth worried. Your mind went to Meliodas, who was still in the doctor's home, unconscious. You looked in the direction of the building, and took a run for it.
"____ !" Your sister called out, before grabbing Hawk and following you. You heard a Holy Knight yell from behind you and when you looked at where the sound came from, you saw that at least a hundred bungs were coming towards you. Suddenly, stone pillars raised from the ground and squished all the bugs to death.
"This is what Lady Diane's power can do..."

Elizabeth finally got to you and stood on your right. "She took out all the bugs, she's amazing !" Diane jumped to get closer to the outskirts of the town and ran towards the prison.

"Look after the captain !"
"We will !" Your group rapidly went to the doctor's house to check on the blond, he was still asleep, so you all grabbed stool and sat on his bedside.
"Can you believe he's still out cold after all the ruckus outside ?" Someone knocked on the door and opened right away it. It was Doctor Dana, whom you hadn't seen since he'd given Meliodas his medication.
"How's the patient doing ?"
"Better, thanks to you. He's sleeping peacefully thanks to the medicine you prepared for him." Elizabeth looked at Meliodas, who looked way younger and calmer now that he was asleep, and almost laughed.
"He's sleeping like the dead !"
"Hawk, don't say such things !"
"Well, I wouldn't say that's... inaccurate." Doctor Dana muttered with an empty stare. All of a sudden, an almost robotic voice rang throughout the room. "Dana, well done. You were successful in your task."

"Who was that ?"
"Show yourself !" While your friends were trying to figure out who the mystery person was, you turned to the doctor, but he ignored you and spoke up again.
"I gave him a poisonous mixture of nightshade, belladonna, Spanish fly, and henbane. This boy shall never wake up again."
"Why wouldn't you treat his wounds ?" You asked angrily at the numb man.
"You see, not even we can clash head on with the Seven Deadly Sins, and emerge unscathed." The robotic voice was the one to answer. "Besides, the kingdom said to use any means necessary." Elizabeth grew tired of speaking to an imaginary person to she raised her voice and intimidatingly yelled.
"Who are you ?! Show yourself !"
A tall Holy Knight appeared right before you, he had horns on his helmet, as well as sharp teeth that made him look threatening. "It is a pleasure to meet you." He bowed to your sister and you. "I am the Holy Knight Golgius, member of the Weird Fangs."
"A Holy Knight ? Where did he come from ?" The knight walked closer to you, and put his hand out.
"Princess ____, I have to take you home."

800m from Dalmally Village, Baste Prison.

Deep inside the impenetrable tower were two Holy Knights, guarding a specific prisoner.
"Hey, you wanna bet on who will win ? The Weird Fangs or the Seven Deadly Sins. They're fighting in town as we're currently speaking."
"That's a sucker bet." The other one answered simply. "The "Seven Deadly Sins" are down to just its captain and one other Sin. They're no match for four active-duty Holy Knights, so-"
"That's just great !" The voice from inside the cell happily exclaimed. The guards shuddered at the sound, and looked at the door of the cell. "That sounds like fun !"
In an instant, a footprint was left on the metal door, and it fell right to the ground, revealing a shirtless, tall, blue haired man.
"No way..."
"It feels so good to stretch my legs !"
"Ban, the Seven Deadly Sins' Fox Sin !" One of the guard was still shaking. "How did you escape." They pointed their sharp swords at the Sin.
"Isn't obvious ? I kicked the door down." Ban bent down to reach his leg and pulled out the metallic bar that had been jammed in it by Holy Knights. He dropped that one to the ground and started pulling every bar that was stabbing his body. "As for why now, you two were having a fascinating conversation. You said he was alive. Our captain, I mean." He threw the piece of metal in between the guards, making them step back in fear.
"What's all this commotion ?" A purple headed woman spoke confidently, walking towards the three.
"Lady Jericho !"
"Ban of the Seven Deadly Sins, huh ? I don't know how you managed to escape your cell, but return there immediately." The Sin ran his hair through his long beard and squinted his eyes at the girl.
"Careful kid. Is that any way to talk to a hero ?"
"And you date address me, an apprentice Holy Knight, as "kid". For a prisoner at death's door, your mouth sure is quite healthy." She turned to the guards and raised her voice at