Long Night

Elizabeth wakes up in the middle of the night feeling sick again. (It must have been something I ate, it must.) However, neither Ban nor Zeldris had any bad reactions to the food. Maybe it was just her anxiety. She walks back up to the cliff and is surprised to see Jaz on the beach, in what looked like knee length work-out shorts and a long, silently loose fitted top with a high, scoop neckline. She flies down.

"Hello Jaz."

Jaz seems surprised. "Oh, hello Elizabeth. Are you ok?"

Elizabeth shakes her head; "I don't think so. I think I'm having a bad reaction to the food. I apology for saying that, but has anybody else?"

Jaz shakes her head. "No, but both me and Scout both get stomach aches when we're full of anxiety, if I can even get her to eat that is." Jaz notices Elizabeth's sad eyes. "We'll find out what happened to your friends. I believe we will."

Elizabeth smiles; "I do too. I don't mean to be rude, but are you going swimming at this hour?"

Jaz nods. "My sister isn't back yet, so I'm going to get her. Rest easy alright."

Elizabeth nods as Jaz runs into the sea. She can't help but remember the reactions Ban and Zeldris had when they discovered that Jasmine De Santis, a surname that most of the girls who grow-up in this church take, was the Pastor of this church. Ban especially couldn't believe it since she wasn't wearing any robs, which she explained that she saves for Sunday worship and special occasions. Her order was one of the only ones who ordained female ministers, although there are still very few of them.

Elizabeth can sense a very kind soul from Jaz, as from the person she believes to be Scout. However, she can feel massive power coming from both of them, yet the power isn't magic, but something more. From the few hours she's been here, Elizabeth can sense that this place, or at least it's inhabitants, are shrowed in mystery.

"I wonder how Meliodas and the others are fairing right now?"

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Meliodas wakes up with an urgent call of nature. After relieving himself, it was then that he realized he's in some strange, somewhat crumbling building. A small magic ball provides a little light. His boots were right next to where he had been laying, and he had been covered by a cloak. It was still dark, and Meliodas was about to go back to sleep when he realizes how famished he is. Using his demon powers like that for an extended period of time had depleted his energy reserves. He then notices Willie sleeping on the far end of the large room up against the wall. He goes over and tries to take Willie's backpack again, only to be stopped by a barrier. "Magic barrier huh? Well now, let's see just how strong it is."

He punches it, but it proves to be fairly strong. He attempts to conger up his demon power but nearly faints. "Man, shouldn't be doing that. Wish I still had Lostvayne with me. How did I manage to lose it this time?" He then notices somebody else sleeping outside the door. It must be Nuri. He goes over to her and looks her over. She's sleeping on her side in a somewhat fetal position. Still unable to make out an obvious breast outline, the dragon sin's curiosity gets the best of him.

Willie's jolted awake from what sounds like a bomb going off. A section of the mosque has been blown away. He sees Nuri literally on fire holding Meliodas by the left wrist. She has her killer look on her face and Willie scrambles to get the peace amulet. Meliodas lifts his head and looks into Nuri's firey eyes. Looking into his emerald green eyes, Nuri's look changes and softens in an instant. She stares at Meliodas' face for several seconds, to his confusion, then she briefly gets an angry look again and burns his hand and wrist, then drops him. She screams a very distorted scream and runs away in a fiery.

Meliodas is very perplexed. "Ok, what just happened here?" He falls to feel Willie kick him in the gut.

"Owe owe owe!"

"You know you've got to hit me a lot harder than that, do ya?"

Willie rubs his foot. "What the heck happened?!"

Meliodas looks at his left hand and wrist, which are badly burnt to the bone, also surprised by the pain he's feeling. "Owe! I'm not sure. One second she's sleeping and the next second she went berserk."

"What did you do to her?"

Meliodas tries to play stupid; "Nothing, I was just making sure she was ok..."

"YOU DIDN'T TOUCH HER?!"

"Actually, I didn't manage to get that far. Like she's got a sixth sense or something."

Willie's literally pulling on his hair. "I don't believe this! What the hell were you thinking Meliodas? You never touch a woman unless you're married to her and with her permission."

Meliodas rolls in eyes, "Spare me the lecture." He then cringes as the pain gets worse.

"Let me see that." Willie also notices that Meliodas's clothes are damage; "I'll fix those." He uses his thread magic to repair the dragon sin's clothes, good as new.

"Wow. Man I sure could've used you after a lot of battles." Meliodas then tries to heal his injuries, but ends up passing out instead.

"Aw jeez. Wake up will you?" Willie shakes Meliodas awake, who appears very dizzy as he opens his eyes.

"I really, really need some food. I sure could use a drink too."

"You'll survive till morning, I'll get you something to drink and something for that injury."

"Isn't it technically morning already, and I don't mean water or your fig juice. I mean a real drink."

"If you mean alcohol, I don't even believe that to be a drink. I don't understand why anybody would put that poison into their bodies."

"Blah blah blah blah blah;" Meliodas feels burning pain from his left hand again and looks at it. "Damn, this is my dominate hand too. I sure do wish Elizabeth were here. Hey Willie, you don't happen to be a healer are you."

Willie looks annoyed; "Don't call me Willie, and no I'm not;" He exams the dragon sin's hand and starts putting a cream on it; "You're lucky. I'm surprised she didn't do a whole lot worse. I've seen her kill humanoid devils and demons as powerful as you with little effort, although she is low on power right now."

Meliodas is shocked to hear that. "She's low on power? That's insane. She sure does seem to have plenty in reserve. What a minute, you knew I was a demon?"

Willie nods; "I could tell from your aura and your smell."

"Smell? You are human aren't you."

"Yes. I'm a human weakling."

"For someone who isn't very powerful, you sure have a lot of versatility with your magic. Hey, can you change yourself to look like my me?"

Willie huffs but stands up and does it anyway, changing into clothes similar to Meliodas and changing his hair color to blond and eyes to green. Meliodas looks him over.

"Not bad. Except the hair's way to sleek. My tie's red, not black. The pants are too long, and I don't button the top buttons of my shirt or wear my tie that tightly."

Willie rolls his eyes and changes back. "I'm not particular on details. Besides, you look sloppy."

"Thank you;" Meliodas replies with a smile.

"Good grief." Willie bandages the demon's hand.

"Thank you, Willie. That's feels so much better already." Meliodas then gives a huge yawn, lays down, and goes back to sleep.

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Zeldris wakes up in the early morning hours after Wild rolls on top of him again. He and Ban are sleeping on cots in the same common room they had eaten in. The cots are actually quite comfortable, but both Wild and Hawk tend to roll around in their sleep, and it's getting on Zel's nerves.

"How did we end up bunking with the pigs?"

Zeldris is surprised he got any sleep at all, especially being without Gelda, the triple snoring symphony and the giant boar continually rolling on to him.

"Get off me you oversized purgatory beast!" He rolls Wild off of him and sits up, yawning and rubbing his eyes.

"You awake again too?" ask Ban, yawning.

"Yea;" Zeldris gets up; "I'm going outside for some fresh air."

"I hear ya."

"I want to be alone."

Ban gets up. "Hey man I know. I miss my love too. It's been months since I've slept without her. Barely sleeping that is."

Zeldris relents; "Fine, you can join me. Seriously, how can anybody sleep for long with all that snoring?"

"You snore about as badly as your brother does;" Ban smirks.

Zel's offended; "Don't compare me to him."

Ban stretches and was about to go down the connecting hallway.

"Don't even think of going that way;" informs Zeldris; "I tried to get to that bathroom earlier and there's a barrier down that hall."

Ban runs into the barrier and gets zapped, or electrocuted; "What they hell is that?"

"No guy can get through that barrier;" says Hawk, who has woken up; "They put it up every night with or without male guest. It's to protect the girls. Can't see inside any rooms either while that barriers up."

"Guess I don't blame them;" says Ban.

"Humph; sure could've used one of those with Meliodas in the demon realm."

"You mean still could use one;" adds Ban.

"So, he hasn't changed huh?" asks Hawk.

"Not in the slightest Master;" answers Ban; "Oh, except for his appetite."

"What do you mean?"

Suddenly, Zeldris feels something; "Hang on." He runs out to the edge of the cliff, Ban and Hawk follow.

"What was that all about?" asks Ban.

"Can't you feel it? There's really massive magic out there, and some other energies too that I can't identify."

"Out in the ocean? Oh, now that you mention it the atmosphere does feel kind of heavy."

"And the waves are just a little bit larger and kind of crocked;" adds Hawk.

As they pear out at the sea, something surfaces from the water. They look like the legs of an oversized squid, and they are glowing!

"I've never seen a squid glow before;" says Ban.

"I've heard of legendary giant glowing squid;" replies Zeldris; "but they're supposed to live way out at sea."

"I'm glad it's out there and we're up here;" says Hawk.

The squid, or monster, looks as if it's fighting or struggling with something. As they watch, Elizabeth joins them. "I felt some strong magic, what is that thing?"

"Looks like a giant squid that glows;" answers Ban.

They hear another voice in Greek, 13-year-old Cloe, as well as 16-year-old Amara, who's holding an infant.

"Should we go out there and get rid of it?" wonders Zeldris.

"Wait;" says Elizabeth, "it looks like it's leaving."

Amara speaks; "I think Scout and Jaz are taking it back out to sea."

Ban, Zeldris, and Hawk give funny looks. "You mean they're not killing that thing;" ask Ban.

"Not if they don't have too;" replies 13-year-old Cloe; "Magic gigantic arpaktiko kalamaria (Magic giant squid apex predator)."

"Huh?"

"The squid is migrating early this year;" says Amara; "It usually doesn't come til June."

"Will they be okay?" asks Elizabeth.

"Jaz and Scout, I think so."

"Hey, I've meaning to ask;" says Ban; "How come you girls can speak our language? You obliviously speak a different one to each other."

"Oh that;" answers Cleo; "Isn't it plague imm..., what's the word Amara?"

"Immigrants."

"Oh yes. Plague imma...grants...from Britian...bring language with them."

"Plague immigrants?" asks Ban; "Which plague?"

"Six zero, seven zero, sixty or seventy years."

"Sixty or seventy years ago?" replies Elizabeth; "Oh I think I know. The great plaque and famine from 60 years ago that wiped out nearly a fourth of Britannia's human population and a good number of the giants and fairies too. Some survivors left, especially from our neighboring mainland kingdoms across the channel. I never would have thought they'd come so far. Am I right girls?"

"That's exactly right?" replies Amara; "My grandparents where from Britannia."

"That plaque happened before I was born;" says Ban, "It killed all my grandparents and a couple of aunts and uncles."

"I was stuck in that damn seal;" adds Zeldris.

"I was, was I even born yet? I don't think so;" adds Hawk.

"What were you and Meliodas doing at the time Elizabeth?" asks Zeldris.

"Meliodas was a bar tender in Avalon. I was...a...a farmer's daughter."

"I was, not born yet;" adds Cleo; "Neither was Amara."

Amara and Cleo speak in Greek again then tell the other three they are going back to bed before any of the younger girls wake up. Elizabeth, Ban, and Zeldris all remain wide awake and just sit, staring out at the sea for awhile. Ban finally breaks the silence.

"So Zel, what was the Captian like as a kid?"

"Don't ask?"

"Come on, I'm sure you got some dirt on him."

"I want to know;" ask Hawk.

"Now now guys, that's not necessary;" says Elizabeth.

"You mean other then the fact that he spend my entire childhood tormenting me? I'd rather not;" replies Zeldris.

"Come on, tell tell;" Hawk exclaims.

"He used to ditch training a lot to hang out with girls or just goof off. Chandler always allowed him to slack off. It's a wonder he even became as great of a fighter and warrior that he is."

"Guys look;" says Elizabeth. Two figures emerge from the sea onto the beach. One is Jaz, the other is the same one Elizabeth saw several hours earlier. They both seem exhausted as they sit down in the water allowing the waves to hit them. The group goes down to check on them.

"Hey Jaz, are you both alright?" asks Elizabeth.

Jaz slowly looks up; "Yes, we just need rest a minute."

"What happened to that monster out there?" ask Ban.

"The Architeuthis Iunae Lumen, I mean the moonlight giant squid? She's headed back to deep water."

The other lady keeps her head down towards the water, as if purposely trying to avoid looking at them. "Hey you, are you Scout?" Keeping her back turned to them, she reaches into her pocket and pulls out something that she puts on her face, then pulls her soaking wet auburn hair into a messing bun before finally looking up. She has completely covered her face with large, black shades and a sand-colored doctor's mask.

"Ok;" both Zeldris and Ban's eyes widen.

"She usually has her face covered;" explains Hawk; "As to why I don't know."

Elizabeth walks to Scout and knees down into the water. "Hello, my name's Elizabeth. I just wanted to say thank you for rescuing us from that cave."

Scout gives a nod as in saying "You're welcome", then stands up and looks towards the guys.

"This is Ban and Zeldris;" adds Elizabeth.

"Uh, hi;" says Zeldris awkwardly. Scout gives then a little nod and wave.

"So you're the one who brought Little Master, that is Hawk, and Wild back from Purgatory;" says Ban.

"And Melidy;" reminds Hawk.

"Oh yes. Anyway, how did you manage to get to Purgatory and back again? I thought mortals with a physical body couldn't survive more then a second in Purgatory, much less spend any length of time there and come back."

Scout looks down as in avoiding the question.

"She won't answer;" says Jaz.

"She barely talks anyway;" adds Hawk; "I really don't even know what her voice sounds like."

"We need to get back;" says Jaz yawning; "The animals and the girls will be waking up soon." She then speaks to Scout in an almost whisper, speaking in some in Britannian, and some Greek. On the way back up, Zeldris has the feeling that Scout is staring at him, yet every time he looks, her head is down. There's definitely something creepy about this girl.

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Nuri has taken her fury out on a desert mountain and the rocky desert bottom. It has taken her three hours to run out of steam. She collapses, her hands on her head in agony. Hot tears pour down her face as flashes of a recent memory run through her head.

"Thoughs eyes, that nose, they look so much like... Why didn't I notice that before?" Nuri bangs into the rocky ground again, repeatedly, making a small crater. "Meliodas, now I remember that name. Is he really her..." Nuri wipes tears from her eyes; "It doesn't matter now, she's..." 

Nuri takes the Destiney Stone of Scotia from her robe pocket and looks at it. "I promise, I promise to find all the pieces and finish the mission you weren't able to finish. Then I'll move on and forget about you. It's for the best."

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In the castle of Lions, King Barta wakes up in a jolt. He just a disturbing vision. He'd had the same vision two nights before, but he had only seen what looked like random shadows being swallowed up by a black mass. Now, however, those shadows had formed into the silhouettes of five of the remaining Seven Deadly Sin, as well as his daughter Elizabeth, another fairy, a vampire, another demon, and three other silhouettes he didn't recognize. Barta get's out of bed and calls for his daughters Margaret and Veronica. They arrive to their father's chamber and he tells them of the vision.

"Father, you don't think something's happened to Elizabeth and the Seven Deadly Sins do you?" asks Veronica.

"I'm not sure;" answers Barta. He then asks Margaret to send a message to Gowther, the Goat Sin of Lust, who has returned to Lions. "I'll send Gowther and some holy knights to investigate. Elizabeth and Meliodas where headed to the town of Avalon the last I heard, so we'll start there."

"I want to go too;" exclaims Veronica.

Barta and Margaret gasp. "Veronica, there's no way you're going to go..."

"I don't want to hear it Father. I'll take Griamore with me. I never get to have an adventure. I'm sick of staying in the background, besides, it's my turn to do something for Ellie."

"Veronica, I forbid..."

"Maybe Gilthunder and I should go too;" says Margaret out of the blue.

Her family can't believe what they just heard. "Maggie, you never..."

"I know Sister, but I believe I too should do something for Ellie and Meliodas out of my own free will, not as a vessel. I too always stay in the background, but for once in my life I want to pay them back."

Barta can't believe what he's hearing, but the determined look in his daughters' eyes makes him relent. "Very well, but both of you had better stay close to Gilthunder and Griamore. I'll send Howser, Jericho, and Gilia. I have a feeling we are up against something really big, and I want you two to stay safe."

"I can take care of myself Father;" assures Veronica; "It's Maggie who'll need protecting."

"And it's Veronica who will need babysitting;" smirks her sister.

"Oh please."

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In a snow caped mountain region far away, Diane, Elaine, and Hermon wonder through a forest. The forest is filled with trees and plants they've never seen before, and Diane's been completely freaked out with the unfamiliar bugs in the forest. Hermon is driving the girls insane. From what little they could understand, he said they were in a land called Hupan, and that the people wore ropes and "no shoes". They think they recognized the words 'trees', "planets' (they think he meant plants), and he said 'Wawa' when pointing to water. It seems as if he keeps talking in a sexy voice, as if he's attempting to flirt with them, and weirdly keeps starting at Diane's breast. While he hasn't laid a hand on them, they think he's very creepy.

Herman tries again to sit on Diane's shoulder, she shoves him and his floating trunk away. "Keep away from me you creep!"

"Yis ma (Yes ma'am)."

"Out of everybody to be stuck with, why him?" ask Elaine.

Both of the ladies' stomachs growl, and Hermon offers them more taffy, which they refuse with disgusted looks on their faces.

"No way! I'd rather eat the Captain's cooking then that stuff again."

"Fortunately I've never tried Meliodas' cooking;" adds Elaine; "Unfortunately, I tried that junk."

Herman eats the taffy with no problem.

"UGH! How can he even manage to eat that stuff, with no ill effects neither;" wonders Diane; "His stomach must be made of iron."

"Stomach make of al-jahaz al-hadmi (digestive organs)."

"Stop trying to talk;" says Elaine; "You can't speak our language, not well."

"Thank Ye."

Diane yawns; "It seems like morning came too soon. My body feels like I only rested for an hour or two."

Elaine also yawns; "I know. It seemed like the night was mysteriously short. I would have sleep longer if this ecstatic bozo allowed us too. Why isn't he tired?"

Herman gets excited and gestures for the girls to look at something. "Trees! Zahr Kurs (cherry blossom) trees. Nice!"

The girls do look and see a large maze of trees with the most beautiful pink flowers on them. "Oh Elaine look. Aren't these the prettiest flowers? Reminds me of the color of my wedding dress."

"These are beautiful;" agrees Elaine; "I wonder what kinds of flowers and trees these are? I've certainly never seen anything like them."

"Looks at that house;" Diane's eyes light up; "What kind of house is that? I've never seen anything like it."

The 'house' is a red building in a triangle shape with a green roof and red, open vertical rectangle gateway. It has strange wind chimes hanging from it, although those decorations prove not to be winds chimes.

"I wonder what these beasts are at the house entrance?" wonders Elaine.

"I don't know;" replies Diane; "they look like they've got the body of a wild cat but the head of a dragon or something. Oh, and look, one has its mouth open and the other has its mouth close. Shouldn't matching statues be identical."

Suddenly, they fill a wave of magic coming from the statutes. They glow and grow, coming to life and growling at the strangers.