Cousins Meet

Inside the Amalfi Cathedral everybody's safe from the volcanic ash and radiation outside as the church is built not only to withstand Vesuvius wrath, a magic shield also purifiers the air, keeping the bad stuff outside. It's the early morning hours when Elizabeth comes to. She swears that she heard Meliodas calling out to her several times, she could even feel his hunger and emotional distress, and felt that he lost control of his wrath, which hasn't happened since before the curses were removed. Since returning from purgatory with his soul and emotions finally fully intact, Meliodas has been much freer with his emotions and not trying to suppress them, and his long-suffering wrath finally released. Any new anger, however, might still affect him, especially the truth about his mother and sister. Zeldris too actually has the same condition but hasn't struggled with controlling or letting out his negative emotions to the same extent as his older brother. Now that Elizabeth thinks about it, this condition seems to be unique to just the two brothers. Does it have anything to do with being half-human? Does their sister also suffer with it?

For a moment Elizabeth even felt wet as submerged in water, although the fact that she's drenched with sweat might be the cause. She feels that the twins are fine, and the doctor assures her they are, but what about Meliodas? Is he alright? Is he in trouble, is he starving? Has Iris found him and revealed her identity to him? If so, that would be an awful lot for Meliodas to take in at one time. He probably would be overwhelmed.

"Elizabeth, you're awake!" Zeldris gives his future sister-in-law a big hug, which he's never done before. She smiles and hugs him back, noticing that he's actually fighting back tears. Zeldris himself now can't believe that he hated Elizabeth for so long because he blamed her for turning Meliodas against the demon clan, and him, and causing his brother to suffer for so long, even though it wasn't her fault.

"Zeldris, are you that worried about me? I just used to much power, that's all."

The demon king fights to hold his tongue, but it's obvious that he was that worried. Ban and Wild are behind Zeldris, let out deep sieges of relief, then Wild jumps on the bed, breaking it and crying. "Elizabeth, Mild and Melidy are gone!" Tears hit everybody, Ban and Zel already soaked from the warthog's earlier tears. "What do you mean?" asks the goddess as Wild blunts out they were taken by a giant blue fur ball with a goat's head. "What?"

Wild demands that Elizabeth help to find them even though Ban has already told him that Elizabeth's not a tracker. Just then one of the doctors arrives. He checks the goddess magically and assures her that she and the twins are fine but insist that she eat something to regain her strength and for the babies. That makes her think of Meliodas and his hunger. She has no appetite herself as a sandwich is given to her and just stares at it. Zeldris insists that she eat. She's barely taken the first bit when a strange old woman comes up to them.

"Thank God you're awake!" she speaks Britannian with a heavy accent. "We really need your help. The daughters of Artemis won't come out of their self-induced coma. I've tried reaching Apolline but she's being stubborn. Please help them, Goddess Elizabeth."

They realize who she's talking about but are shocked by the request. Zeldris tries to insist that the old mage leave Elizabeth alone to rest, but she persists. "Please help them. There are good girls I swear and their health's in critical danger. I just thought since that you're Apolline's blood cousin, she might listen to you."

They are all shocked to hear this, especially Elizabeth. "Lady;" snaps Zeldris; "Please leave my sister-in-law alone. She's pregnant and she's been through a lot tonight."

"What do mean cousin?" asks Ban. "Do you have any cousins Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth is perplexed. She's had hundreds of adopted cousins over the years, including Bartra's nieces Joan and Alice, but never a blood cousin. "I'm terribly sorry. I will help them, but I'm afraid I'm not related to them."

The old woman looks perplexed. "You mean you're not the daughter of Caelestis? I thought you were. I guess the rumors were wrong. Sorry to bother you."

The boys all look at each other. Elizabeth stands up. "Wait! I am the blood daughter of Caelestis, unfortunately. But what does that have to do these girls?"

Zeldris was about to argue back but remembers that he has an uncle and cousin that he didn't know about until yesterday. Is it possible?

"I think, no I don't remember;" says Wild; "I'm not sure if I ever heard of Caelestis having a sibling or not. Maybe. Not much info about the goddess clan ever reached purgatory."

"I'll help them, where are they?"

"Elizabeth, are you sure?" asked Zeldris. Ban puts his arm in front of his captain's brother to prevent him from going after her. Ban too is shocked by the news and wants to protect Elizabeth, but sometimes people have to fight their own battles and find things out for themselves.

"What about Mild and Melidy?" ask Wild tearing up again; "I thought Elizabeth would help find them?"

"She's not a tracker Wild;" answers Ban; "Believe me, I want to find Master and Little Madame too, but maybe these girls know where that fur ball took them. That manic magician seems to know who they are."

"If only he was competent enough to get a straight answer out of;" adds Wild.

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Elizabeth is lead to the daughters of Artimes. She's shocked to learn that her blood mother supposedly has a younger blood sister, whom she's never heard about. She's especially shocked by the girls' condition, especially her supposed blood cousin Apolline. Ban and Zeldris followed them, Wild unable to fit through the door of the small Sunday School room. As Elizabeth sits next to Apolline to try and connect with her, the boys have lots of questions. The one called Stormy, whom just a little while ago was the tallest, prettiest, and most maturely developed of the three (if very dehydrated and a little emaciated) has now mysteriously shrunk to the size and form of a small child (with a slight preteen build), or a young adult little person with a dome head. The old mage explains to them that only Apolline is the blood offspring of Artimes, while Stormy, the blood offspring of a demon and a dwarf-human hybrid, is Artimes' step-daughter. Arwen, with pinkish-purple skin, white hair, pointy ears, and 4 fingers on each hand, is an elf and adopted daughter of Artemis. Apolline, half-goddess and half-demon, has grayish pale skin and purple hair. She could potentially be pretty if she wasn't so emaciated and sickly looking. She literally looks like she hasn't eaten in months, maybe years. Zeldris' mouth drops in shock hearing that she's a goddess/demon hybrid, having assumed that his niece and nephew would be the first mixed goddess-demon (plus human) descendants.

Ban is also in disbelief as he thought that elves and dwarfs were myths, or extinct. That, however, was before he learned there's a huge world beyond his country's boarders. "That's some family they've got there."

Elizabeth concentrates hard to enter the curse plaguing the daughters of Artimes. To her surprise, this curse is self-inflicted by Apolline, keeping both her and her sisters in a deliberate coma. The void she enters is actually quite dark and grayish.

"Hello."

"Go away."

Elizabeth turns in the direction of the low, dreary voice. "Hello, I'm here to help you."

"We don't need help. Get out of my mind this instance." The figure of Apolline appears. At first, she seems angry, but then a look of realization appears on her face. "You? Your...what are doing here?"

"As I said, I'm here to get you out of this comatose curse. Your bodies are in very bad shape."

"We wake up when I say we can. This is none of your business. GO AWAY and LEAVE US ALONE!"

"Apolline, don't be so rude." The little version of Stormy appears. "Arwen and I aren't in here by choice. We want out."

Arwen appears and almost agrees, but keeps her mouth shut when Apolline gives her a firm look.

"Stormy;" ask Arwen; "Why are in that form?"

Stormy looks at herself; "Oh, I guess I lost too much energy. You know how I revert to this when I'm nervous or weak." She changes back into her mature form. "How many days has it been since we've eaten? We're famished."

"And dehydrated;" adds Arwen. "We can't stay like this for much longer or we'll die."

"We're fine;" replies Apolline; "Suffering is beautiful and it'll make us stronger. Mankind don't need food; we've got the strength within us."

"Or we'll die," argues Stormy; "Just because you hate eating and believe indulging is the worst sin ever created doesn't mean you should force others to suffer and starve themselves as you. You embrace suffering way too much."

"How many times do I have to tell you that life is meant for suffering. The more we suffer in this live, the greater our rewards will be in heaven."

"I wish we never met that extremist Himalayan monk. Out of all the spiritual and philosophy in the world, why did you have to embrace his."

"Apolline;" speaks Elizabeth; "Why put yourself and your sisters through this? Don't you care about their lives? What about your mother? Isn't she worried about you?"

"Believe me, it's the right thing to do. Staying safe in here rather than sacrificing ourselves for Mom and having her bury another child is best."

"Here we go again;" goes Stormy; "Are you sure the one who was trying to curse us was Caelestis? Why would she show up after all this time? We don't even know if our brother is even dead in that seal."

"And you said something bad happened to Mom;" adds Arwen; "How is staying in here sparing her pain?"

"And our pets;" adds Stormy; "We only arranged for them to be feed for a few days. And who's cleaning their enclosures?"

"They won't go hungry;" replies Apolline; "You feed them way to much Stormy!"

"No I don't!"

Elizabeth's light flashes at them. "That's enough! Someone please explain yourselves calmly before I lose my patience. If Caelestis has done something to your mother, me and my friends can defeat her. We have before. If you're really worried about your mother, let me help you."

Apolline looks upset; "Of course we love our mother. We love her more than anything. She can fight her own battles. It's selfish for us to risks our lives again out there and die and cause her even more suffering. You don't know what she's been through, Lady Elizabeth."

"Cousin Elizabeth;" says Stormy; "And I don't agree. We should be risking our lives to help Mom."

"Now you're being selfish Stormy. I told you it's not worth it to be killed so Mom has to bury use and live with that. She'll commit suicide for sure if any one of us dies."

"I see your point Apolline," adds Arwen; "But how is staying in here doing us or Mom any good. We've always worked together and succeed as a team."

"We're no match for Caelestis and her followers. We'll be killed for sure. We almost were last time. You really want to hurt Mother that much."

"Stop!" shouts Elizabeth; "First tell me, how am I related to you? Is your mother my blood aunt?"

Apolline looks at the goddess like that's the stupidest question she's ever heard. "Seriously? You really don't know who our mother is? How can you possibly not know."

"Apolline quit. It's not her fault if she doesn't know. Cousin Elizabeth, can we speak in your void. I have a feeling we really need your help."

Stormy starts to walk towards Elizabeth's void away from Apolline. "Stormy, you can't exit here without my permission!"

"Watch me. Your space has been invaded." Stormy walk towards Elizabeth and they both disappear. Apolline is furious. "She's so stubborn. She'll have us killed."

"She's stubborn? Looks who's talking?"

Apolline gives Arwen a threatening look, and she shuts up.

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Inside Elizabeth's light void, Stormy speaks. "I'm so sorry about my sister Cousin Elizabeth. She's been this way ever since Dad died. She fills her head with this dark and negative thoughts and refuses to focus on the positive. Guess she got it from Mom, multiplied ten times over."

"It's alright. Tell me, is it true that your mother is related to mine by blood."

"In blood only;" answers Stormy. "Believe me, blood isn't what makes a real family, unconditional love does."

Elizabeth understands completely. She's had dozens of adopted family over the past 3,000 years, including parents, some better than others. Non the less, in all that time, nobody has felt more like a genuine parent than Barta. Margaret and Veronica are the best and most loving siblings she's ever had. Still, the blood connection is one that Elizabeth can't ignore.

"Are you my cousin, by blood I mean?"

"I'll be your cousin if you let me. No, I'm not Artemis' daughter by blood. My birth mother died when I was very young. I don't even remember her. Artemis was my teacher and mentor. We developed a special bond, then I realized there was sparks between her and my father, so I convinced them to open up their hearts to each other and the rest is history."

Elizabeth is astounded. "So, Apolline is their blood daughter? And Arwen?"

"We adopted Arwen 24 years ago. Apolline and me found her as a newborn abandoned in a trash dump, we couldn't abandon her again. We tried to keep her a secret, thinking that Mom would be mad and send her to the orphanage. We were wrong! The local elf tribe said she wasn't closely related to them but believe her birth parents are from Russia. We celebrate August 5, the date we found her, as her birthday, even though she was probably born a few days before that. My birthday is January 6 and Apolline's October 21. When's your birthday?"

"June 12. What a minute, we'll chat later. So, Artemis is my, aunt? How come I've never heard of her? When did she leave Britannia?"

"I think 3270 years ago. A few years before you were born. She didn't leave by choice. She and Azareth were exiled for plotting to end that stupid war once and for all. Barbatoes and Caelestis could never see, or didn't want to see, a path or purpose other than endless bloodshed, even though the two of them supposedly respected each other, in a very odd way that is."

"Why were you trying to break into the church and kidnap the girls."

"We weren't trying to kidnap them. We just wanted to take them for a while and keep them out danger, and maybe temporary hostages to find the ankh, but I swear we'd never harm them. We didn't know that the Jasmine and Iris De Santis were back. I saw their bodies fall into that lava pool. I'm glad they made it through and I know they're just protecting their sisters, even if they don't understand why we do what we do. Maybe we are too stubborn for our own good, I don't know."

Elizabeth really doesn't understand either, although it's apparent that they believe they're doing the right thing. They're not bad at all, just misunderstood.

"Stormy;" comes the voice of Apolline; "Don't tell her all that stuff! Keep that rambling mouth of yours shut!"

"Too late for that now;" adds Arwen.

"Hush."

Elizabeth decides to cut to the chase. "Are you three aware of what's going on outside right now?"

Stormy gives a confused look. Arwen appears inside the goddess's void. "Does it have to do with the volcano? I felt it erupting. Nothing Jasmine De Santis can't handle right?"

"Three volcanoes are erupting?" answers Elizabeth. "Two vulacish got into a fight and set them all off. It sounded as if somebody tricked them into a fight."

"WHAT?" three voices come in unison. Apolline appears. "You can't possibly believe that our mother would cause something like that." She slaps her hands together. "Most have been Vald, that traitor."

"Vald?" asks Arwen; "but he disappeared months ago."

"You can't possibly believe Vald would order a thing like that;" says Stormy; "I know he's sketchy, but he wouldn't do something like that, I'm sure."

"Don't be so naïve you two!" says Apolline; "You know he used to be obsessive with Mother. I wouldn't be surprised if he still is. He acts innocent and that he's long over her when we're around, but I've never trusted him."

"But hasn't Mom kept him as her assistant all this time?" asks Arwen; "Who are you calling naïve Apolline, you liked him too. In fact, you had a crush on him."

Apolline hates being reminded of that; "Enough Arwen! That's before I started sensing what he's really like. It wouldn't surprise me if he had something to do with our father's death."

That's something Stormy never wanted to believe. Vald has always been a good and trusted uncle type to the girls. Stormy used to hear rumors that he used to see Artimes as more than just friends, but she never really took it seriously, especially since Vald was always so supportive of her father and Artimes' marriage.

"I'll bet you he's in cohots Caelestis, I'm sure. I've been feeling an awfully strong and sinister presences lately that's too similar to mother's. Why would mother keep her around? I don't understand that?"

Elizabeth gasps at that. Could it really be the Supreme Deity behind all this? How did she survive that final blow from Meliodas and Zeldris? She wasn't anywhere near her full power at that time.

"I didn't want to believe that was what I was feeling;" says Stormy; "I thought she was trapped in a seal that only someone as strong as an Emperor Warlord could break. Why would she show up after all this time?"

"But Mom told us to get the church's girls;" adds Arwen; "Did she know this was going to happen?"

"Mother would do that if for good reason;" answers Apolline; "but not something so catastrophic. Never!"

"Then you've got to wake up;" says Elizabeth; "As I said, we can defeat my mo...Caelestis. We have before."

Apolline crosses her arms. "Give me one good reason to trust you, Cousin Elizabeth. You're still Caelestis' daughter, after all."

"Apolline that's not far;" scolds Stormy; "What choice do we have? We can't judge her based on who gave birth to her. We can feel she's a benevolent soul. Besides, why would she help Caelestis after all she did to her and her true love? Only a heartless monster would do that to their own child."

"Besides;" adds Arwen; "You've always expressed interested in meeting Elizabeth, now you have."

"I can change my mind."

"Please Apolline;" pleads Stormy; "Do you really, fully 100'% believe without a doubt that staying in here not risking our lives is the way to help Mom? Any bit of the slightest doubt."

Apolline appears to be thinking about that one, then huffs. "I hate it when you pull that stuff on me."

Arwen smiles and even cheers. Elizabeth smiles; "Alright. I'll see you in a second." She then fades from the void.

Elizabeth opens her eyes. Ban and Zeldris are glad she's back with them. Hoping that she succeeded, 30 seconds later the sisters start to wake up. Stormy slowly gets up, holding her head, and changes from her dwarf form back into her tall, womanly form. Her stomach growls and her mouth is bone cotton dry. "Get us some food and water, please."

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Jasmine is back at her church gathering supplies. It's protected by harden lava rock, but the air's too polluted for anybody else to be in here for now. She picks up her sermon notes as well but is not sure if she's even going to be able to preach tomorrow. The Catholic priest at the Cathedral agreed to provide services to her congregation tomorrow or allow them to attend their services if they choose to do so despite being of different denominations, which they do in case of emergency. Pastor Enzo could lead the service if she has to attend to emergency matters, but she doesn't know which is letting her congregation down even more, not leading the service or not attending to the volcano. Some even suggested putting the normal service off until Sunday evening or even later in the week if necessary. She prays for guidance as she hears her teleline ball going off. It's a miracle that it's even getting through all this volcanic debris in the air.

She picks up the ball and answers in Greek; "Geia sas (hello)."

"(In Tibetan) Pastor Jaz, it's me, Carmine."

"(In Greek) Carmine? Please speak in Greek."

"(In Greek) Oh yes, so sorry. Jaz, I'm sorry to bother you at this hour. I just received a telebeam from Merlin. I'm afraid they took a wrong turn and went south. They ran into the Nico triplets, or however many of them there is."

"Hang on your breaking." Jasmine quickly exists the church and leaps for a mystic connection cave in the woods, the same one that the daughters of Artimes first hide out in. "Are you still there? Conditions out here are very unfavorable right now."

"Yes, I can hear you. Is everything all right there?"

"I wish. What were you saying again?"

Carmine repeats her message, and Jasmine gasps. "What? Oh no that's a problem. Can they back track and turn north?"

"Unfortunately, they're travel guide is comatose as we speak. They're also trapped as the Nico's have eyes and ears everywhere. Plus, they took their weapons, and they really don't need to lose those. They're sacred treasures of Britannia and they need them for battle."

"Oh my gosh." She sits down with her back against the wall. "Of all people to run into. Oh, by the way, it's not triplets. Nico is..." She pauses, now's not really the time to go into detail. "Tell me everything you know. I'll go get them if I have too."

"Please don't do that;" pleads Carmine; "You're all too aware of the risks. And if that volcano's erupting you shouldn't leave. There's currently a large change of volucish fighting around the globe. It's too dangerous."

Jasmine gasps at that. So, it's not just happening here. True, she knows the risks of going to the southern border and facing Nico Reika head on. If Iris was here, that would make things much easier. What to do now? She can't just leave the Britiannians stranded there.

"Jaz, are you still there?"

"Yes Carmine, I'm here."

"By the way, another missing Britiannian showed up. It's that giant girl Diane. The portal was forced open again and pulled her and a couple Japanese girls through it. Unfortunately, the fairy remains in Japan as of now."

In Carmine's tent, Diane is rocking four-year-old Hana to sleep and eating a bowl of Tsampa. Kogame is sitting on the next cot with a blanket wrapped around her, crushed by the news that Carmine hasn't learn the whereabouts of Inuyasha. Kogame hasn't eaten or drank a thing since they got here. Jasmine suddenly thinks of something.

"Carmine, this giant, what type of powers does she have? How tall is she?"

"How tall? I don't know, she's human size right now. Hang on?" Carmine speaks to Diane telepathically. "Diane, how tall is your full size?"

Diane freaks out; "What?! Why do you want to know?"

Carmine catches what she's thinking. "Pastor Jaz in Amalfi wants to know?"

"But why? I don't even know her?"

"I think because we're dealing with a big enemy. You want to help you sweetheart, don't you?"

Diane is embarrassed by her true height. Jasmine, who heard the serpent sins's every word, speaks.

"Miss Diane (Dye-ann), my name is Pastor Jasmine De Santis. My height is 5'9 and my weight is 175-180 lbs."

Diane can't believe what she just heard. "It's Dee-ann, and are you joking? No human woman would admit to being that height. And you really don't weight that much?"

Jasmine is telling the truth. "I do actually? I weight more then I look. I'll show you on a scale when we meet."

"She's telling the truth Miss Diane;" Carmine explains; "I know because I saw them weight themselves when they were here. Jasmine is a pastor and can't lie about things like that."

Diane feels dumbfounded. Normally she says she's 29 ft or slightly under. She embarrassedly admits, almost under her breath, that she's 30 ft tall.

"Humm;" Jasmine thinks to herself. She'd prefer taller, but maybe that'll work. She wants to know more about Diane's powers, and Diane admits they are nature creation based. Carmine also mentions that Kagome possess spirit powers and carries a bow and arrows. "

"Diane, can you produce exceptionally powerful lighting?" ask Jasmine.

"Yes, I can! Especially with Gideon. How strong are we talking about?"

"Alot." Jasmine remembers that there are three others currently in Amalfi that may be able to help, maybe Elizabeth too. That is if they wake up and can convince them to work with us.

"I have a plan. It's a gamble but it might work."