Revelations

In a harsh, almost uninhabitable environment that resembles Britannia's purgatory dimension, except that this place is dark purple and brown and is bubbling with lava mud and tar pits and pyroclastic ash clouds, two figures appear by teleportation. It is Madame and her assistant, who's coated with a protective light shield. He is grossed out by the environment.

"Ew. Madame, why are we down here? Couldn't you have picked another place to talk?"

"This is one of the few places she can't see or hear us."

A tar bubble pops on her assistant's protective invisible shield. "Yuck! Let's hurry up. I still don't understand why you're sheltering her. She doesn't even care about you. I do believe she knows you're just pretending to help her."

"Of course, she knows;" says Madame; "I'm keeping my enemy close to me while I can. Her power grows by the day, and I won't be able to contain her much longer. We must move up our timetable now! I'm so sick of her curses and her games. It's time to free my son and take care of her once and for all."

"What about your daughters? We still haven't located them?"

"They're probably better off in the nightmare realm. They are so stubborn. I don't want them involved in this fight. They'll be killed for sure."

"I'm sorry to say this Madame, but you can't protect them forever. You couldn't even keep them down here for their own protection."

"Speaking of which, I don't feel 'them'. Where are they? Isn't this the spot I put them?"

Her assistant really isn't sure; "I don't remember Madame. They've been wondering the place for a while now. I'm not even sure where they are."

"Not much longer now;" says Madame as she removes her hood, back facing her assistant. Her hair is light lavender, long and straight. "Then I'll finally free them. They don't need to be involved in this."

"They've never been your enemies Madame;" points out her assistant; "I'm not sure they understand your type of protection."

(Close up of her eyes) Madame lowers her eyelids over her hazel eyes, looking down at her feet; "It's better than what they'd have to face off with. Caelestis mustn't learn that she's alive. I won't sacrifice anymore innocent lives."

"Would Madame like a cup of coca?"

"Sure. With marshmallows please. I'll take it in the library. I'm going to grab some old reports from the files and read them, see if I'm missing anything. And to make sure nothings being withheld from me, if you know what I mean. Have those boars been rounded up and destroyed yet?"

"The official report said that they were, Madame."

"I wonder. Let's go. I'm going to the villages tomorrow to see how the lands and new crops are coming along after those beasts destroyed the lands. It's embarrassing borrowing supplies from other regions."

"Well as you said, the peasants need to eat."

"People, not peasants. Get it right!"

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Howser, Gilthunder, and Griamore watch from inside the ladder's gravity bubble as hundreds of giant wildfire boars enter the ocean and swim out to sea. Hundreds of holy knights and ordinary soldiers continue to herd the beasts towards the sea. The three senior knights are very battle weary.

"I take back what I said earlier;" says Howser; "these things are nearly as tough as the demon clan."

"That was a great plan Bartra had, hoarding these beasts to the ocean;" says Gilthunder; "they all should drown before they reach the next land mass."

"No disrespect to his majesty;" says Griamore; "but he got the idea from Lady Veronica's slay comment."

"Maybe so;" agrees Gilthunder; "I'm glad Bartra's niece sent tropes from the mainland to help. Without them, this would've taken so much longer."

Howser yawns and slaps himself to stay awake. "Let's go Griamore. There's still plenty of pigs to get that didn't fall for our trick. The soldiers guarding the farms and villages are exhausted and these things just keep going and going, ravaging everything in their paths. We're probably going to be up all night again."

They haven't gotten far when the Roars of Dawn order intersects them and reminds them that they have orders from King Bartra to rest and alternate duties with them and a fresh mainland squad behind them. The three knights look at this squad from Queen Joan, the niece of Bartra's late wife Caroline. They don't know much about this squad, who call themselves the Brown Praying Mantises. They consist of 8 members (6 males, 2 females), each wearing short brown and green robes with intense looks on their faces. They have a reputation of loving battle too much, especially their lanky and creepy looking captain, who just "loves" to slice up worthy opponents. They also have a reputation of causing great destruction and for being thuggish, making the Roars of Dawn, who are known for finishing their job no matter the costs, and the wild party bunch Seven Deadly Sins, seem like "angels" by comparison.

"I don't know about this;" says Howser. Then Slader, the Roars of Dawn's captain, informs them that Princess Veronica is waiting for them in the camp, and she orders them to come.

"Veronica? Here?" asks Griamore; "Why am I not surprised?"

They soon land at base camp. The camp is a total wreck, to say that a hurricane hit it would be an understatement. Veronica is waiting for them, holding a tray of food.

"What happened here?" ask Howser.

"Those praying mantis guys and girls decided to let off some steam before going into battle. I've never seen the like. Cousin Joan apologized for sending them, but her best squad can't be spared right at the moment. Now, sit down and eat. Then the three of you are going to get some sleep. That's an order!"

All three take a plate and sit down around the fire. They are all bone tired, but Gilthunder doubts that he'll get any sleep with Margaret out there in the world somewhere.

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In Carmine's tent, everyone, minus the demon slayer whose still out cold, and Carmine, who's in another part of the tent in a meditative state next to her glowing orb ball, sit in silence around the warm stove holding bowls of Tsampa and cups of tea. Nobody is really eating, and everybody just sits in silence either looking at their bowls or each other awkwardly. Nuri has her back turned to the Britannians, just repeatedly stirring her now cold Tsampa and occasionally sipping her tea.

King finally breaks the silence and bangs his spoon down. "Come on. Doesn't she have anything else other than this bland barley soup and tea to serve?"

"King?" says Merlin shocked.

"Be grateful!" snaps Nuri; "You're lucky to have any food at all. Sorry that she doesn't have any enough barley right now to make bread! It's almost harvest time!"

King quicky picks up his spoon and starts eating. "Right. Sorry. I'm grateful. It's not so bad. Really."

Nuri sits back down and takes a spoonful of her cold Tsampa. After eating it nearly every day for 300 years, she never quite got used to the taste. Still, it brings back some of her more pleasant memories. "I remember teaching Carmine how to make this. Mine was never as good as hers though." She realizes that she said that out load. The Britannians look at her and she turns away again. Gelda inches closer to Nuri. "Li...I mean Nuri. I remember your mother. You were named after her, you know? She was the wisest, most kind and beautiful woman I ever knew. I really looked up to her and aspired to be like her."

Merlin holds back tears hearing that. Nuri briefly glances at Gelda then looks back at her bowl, pretending that she's not touched. Gelda tilts her head thoughtfully.

"I don't know if it helps, but I never knew my mother either. She was human you know. Carrying a half-vampire child killed her. In truth, I had no desire to live at all until Zeldris saw the good in me."

Gelda sees Nuri cringing her fists, trying to hold her temper. "Please don't get angry. I'm sorry, I didn't know you had a crush on Zel. Merlin told me about that day, when the demon princes rescued you both... I didn't know."

Nuri just takes a deep breath and sieges. Then tears form in her eyes. She finally turns to face Gelda. "I'm...I'm...sorry." Saying that feels like bitter acid in her mouth. "It wasn't just having a crush on Zeldris. I'm long since over that. I looked up to you too. I envied you; I idolize you. You had everything I wanted, including a loving father. When I saw you..." Nuri cringes her fists and cries. Merlin tries to put her hand on her sister's shoulder, Nuri pushes her away.

"You never even noticed me Gelda. Nobody did."

Gelda had no idea, neither did Merlin. Nuri allows the tears to flow. She almost never lets her emotions out, except for her anger. Yet somehow, saying it out load just now is making her feel better.

There's silence for several more minutes, then King breaks the quite once again. "If you don't mind my asking, why would the Supreme Deity curse Merlin's sister instead of Merlin? It doesn't make sense."

Merlin knows why the deity and demon king punished and killed her sister in front of her, because they couldn't harm Merlin directly due to them giving her immunity blessings to the opposing clan's magic when she double crossed them both. Therefore, they punished Lilith instead. However, it doesn't make sense why they'd punish her any further and curse her like this.

"For her own amusement, I suppose;" answers Nuri; "I hear she's like that."

"Was like that;" says Merlin standing up; "My comrades killed her three months ago. We should be able to easily lift that curse now."

"What makes you think I want it removed?" Merlin is shocked to hear that. King drops his bowl and Gelda drops her teacup in shock.

"Why would you say something like that?" ask the sorceress.

Nuri refuses to answer that; "You said you killed Caelestis, then why do I still feel her presence out there somewhere in the Alps?"

Merlin, King, and Gelda are stunned. "Caelestis?!" the fairy king and vampire asks in unison. Merlin had learned the names of the Supreme Deity and Demon King a long time ago but had never revealed them to anybody in Britannia, not even to their offspring.

"Also (Merlin's real name), I heard what you did. You should NEVER mess with chaos."

Merlin glares at her; "I did it for you, for our lost people."

"Keep telling yourself that. You just wanted the most powerful thing you could get your hands on. You'd better keep an eye on whomever you stashed it in. It's not like the Gift. Chaos is nothing but leftover creation power corrupted by Satan and mankind. Very few people who have been its vessels have ever been able to control it! It's so easy to be corrupted by power."

Merlin knows she must take her sister's words seriously; "I'm keeping my eye on him. Wait, back up. What's the Gift?"

Carmine returns to the room and speaks to Nuri in Tibetan. "Nuri, I just got off the teleline with Uba in Japan. You remember her, don't you? Anyway, she informed that two people from Britannia are there. A giant girl and a fairy girl. Oh, also that harpy companion of yours."

Nuri rolls her eyes at the mention of Herman, then translates for the others.

"That's got to be Diane and Elaine, my wife and sister!" King hovers with joy and cries. He grabs a rag to blow his nose. "Hang on Diane, Sis, we're coming!"

The priestess then tells the vulacish that the blue dragon appeared in Japan and is one his way home, and to also be on the lookout for a half-dog demon, half-human named Inuyasha. She also informs that three other people are in Amalfi, Naples. She hasn't made direct contact with Pastor De Santis yet, but she's sure she'll try to call back in the morning.

"Wait, who did you say it was?" asks Nuri.

Carmine repeats. Nuri then ask if she knew the first name. When the priestess tells her, Nuri's jaw drops. She is shocked, beside herself. "Did you just say, Jasmine?"

"Yes, is something, oh sweetie, you didn't know?"

Tears whale up in the vulacish's eyes as she takes a sit. The Britannians can only look on in confusion. Nuri's hands are shaking.

"Did you not get their messages?" asks Carmine; "They stayed here for a couple of weeks after they escaped the Transylvanian purgatory dimension. I saw them write and send messages to you and your bishop. They've been back in Amalfi for two months."

Nuri sobs. "You mean they're, both Jasmine and..."

Suddenly, something resembling a perfect cub surrounds them. The Chinese demon slayer has come too and trapped everybody.

"(In Chinese) I'm only asking this once, WHERE ARE THEY!"

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Elizabeth stands on the beach with her feet in the water. It is alternating between light rain and drizzle, but it feels so good and she's not bothered by a little rain. She should be in bed, but she just can't sleep. She really misses Meliodas. What is he doing right now? Probably having fun and not worrying much about his situation, that's just the type of person he is. Still, he'd be missing her terribly. Hopefully nobody is sleeping near him, so he won't unconsciously grab them in his longing for her, a recent habit that Meliodas himself isn't aware of. Elizabeth especially hopes that he's getting enough food and not causing too much havoc, although he surely is.

"You're out here again?" comes Hawk's voice; "Are you turning into Scout or something? She loves the water and rain and being wet. In fact, I think she's supposed to keep herself wet, don't know why."

Elizabeth smiles. "I can understand why she'd loved this." The sweet sprinkles and waves hit her again.

"Don't catch cold;" warns Hawk; "By the way Elizabeth, are you pregnant?"

Elizabeth nearly chocks on her saliva and coughs; "What? Hawk, how did you know?"

"It was a guess mostly;" explains Hawk; "Ban's wondering the same thing because of your behavior and symptoms. Scout and Jaz figured it out already, didn't they?"

Elizabeth smiles and nods. Hawk starts leaping joyfully into the air and doing somersaults. "Yippee! I'm going to be an HONORARY UNCLE and give him or her piggyback rides! Melidy will have a playmate. That's OK isn't it, Elizabeth? Can Wild and I be the baby's god-uncles? I know Ban will be the godfather. And I know it should technically be god-aunt, but can Melidy be god-sister or god-cousin since they'll grow up together? Oh, and can I be junior or juniorness's personal bodyguard as well? I know I'm not as strong as you guys or Wild, but I've gotten stronger during my time..."

Hawk starts to hyperventilate from excitement. "Hawk, calm down;" Elizabeth holds him down and messages the pig in the chest. Hawk catches his breath and calms down with tears of joy in his eyes. Hawk then sneezes as the rain picks up. "AH CHEW! Jeez. Come on Elizabeth, let's go in."

The princess nods, then informs Hawk that it's junior either way and there's no such thing as juniorness. She then tells Hawk that it's both.

"WHAT!? TWINS! You're having twins! How can you know so early, oh wait, Scout am I right? She has some mysterious spirit reading power as Amara calls it."

As they pass the garden and barn, they see Zeldris inside the barn reading Scout's notebook. Elizabeth can tell even from this distance that he's holding back emotions, even tears. As much as she feels the need to comfort him, Zel asked for privacy during this time.

"He still hasn't eaten;" says Hawk. Zeldris hadn't joined them for dinner earlier and refused food offered to him afterward.

They hear a small holler coming from the dining/living space. They can see through the window Ban pushing Wild off of him. A few seconds later, a sleep deprived Ban exists with Wild right behind.

"Seriously?! How did you end up on top of me from the other side of the room?"

"Don't be upset Ban;" replies Wild; "my soft and fluffy fur should feel good to you."

"Not when there's 3,000 pounds of it."

"Actually, all my fur together weighs less then 7 lbs. And my weight is closer to 2,000 lbs."

"Ban!" Hawk says excitedly; "Your suspicions were correct. ELIZABETH IS PREGNANT!"

"Hawk!" goes the goddess.

"Really?!" Ban has a huge grin on his face; "YES! I thought so! Way'd a go Princess!"

He picks up Elizabeth and gives her a twirl.

"Ban please."

"PREGNANT!?" Zeldris is standing outside the barn door with a shocked look on his face.

"Yes Zeldris;" answers Hawk; "you're going to be an uncle, to a niece and nephew!"

"TWINS!" says Ban also surprised; "One of each? Man, when the captain does something he really does it!"

"Not surprisedly;" agrees Hawk.

"Alright! More little ones to play with;" says Wild as he, along with Hawk and Ban, do a ring around the rosy type of dance to celebrate.

"This calls for a drink!" exclaims Ban slapping his hands.

"GUYS STOP!"

Everybody stops and stare at Elizabeth in silence. She almost never shouts like that.

"What's going on out here?" asks Jasmine coming out in her nightgown.

"We just learned Elizabeth's pregnant with twins!" answers Hawk.

"Guys please;" says Elizabeth much more calmly. "Meliodas doesn't know yet. I really wanted to tell him before anybody else found out, now..."

The guys all have more sober looks. Some of the barn animals make noise from all the commotion. "Elizabeth;" says Ban; "We're sorry. It's just so exciting that's all. To think the Cap'n becoming a dad, and the thought that we may be raising our kids together, if Elaine's pregnant too, after everything we've all been through, especially the two of you."

Elizabeth gently places her palm on her belly and nods. "Wait, is Elaine pregnant too?"

"She may be." answers Ban; "She missed her last womanly and she was nausea the last couple of times I cooked fish, like my mother was with my sister."

Jasmine smiles. "Babies really are God's greatest blessings. But don't forget that babies also take a lot of work." As soon as those words leave her lips, Jade starts crying. "Coming!"

Hawk runs behind her to check on Melidy. Wild follows after extending another congratulations. Ban and Elizabeth try to calm down the animals.

"Sorry I was messing with you earlier Elizabeth;" says Ban; "I was afraid to ask directly in case I was wrong."

"That's ok. Ban please don't say anything to anybody else, especially to Meliodas. He must learn it from me."

Ban gives his solum word as the Fox Sin of Greed and as a friend not to tell, and he means it. Meanwhile Zeldris remains silent and is staring intently at a page in the journal. Ban snaps his fingers in his face.

"Hello, Earth to the demon king. Don't you have anything to say to the one carrying your niece and nephew?"

Zeldris doesn't look up; "Sure. Congratulations, I guess."

"What kind of congrats was that?"

"Ban, don't force it." Elizabeth sits next to Zel. He has a very intense look on his face and is fighting back tears. "Zel, is something wrong?"

The demon king whips a tear from his eye. "I'm sorry Elizabeth. I'm happy for you. It's just that..." He bangs his fist on a cement block, reducing it to dust. "I've always hated my father, now hate is too good a word for him."

"Whatever do you mean?" Elizabeth then glances at a picture in the journal. She gasps looking at it. Ban looks over Zel's shoulder. It takes him a moment but then he realizes who the person in the picture looks like. There in the photo is a face of a very beautiful woman who resembles Zeldris, but even more so, Meliodas. She has the same yellow hair and mischievous grin as Meliodas, as well as the same emerald eye color and several other facial features of both brothers. Ban and Elizabeth are blown away. Unknown to them, Jasmine watches from the door, holding baby Jade.

"Says her name is Isabella;" explains Zeldris sobbing; "If what this book says is true...that's...my...mother."

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"Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" Inuyasha slices a giant snake creature in half. It then disappears into dust, along with two others already sliced up.

"That's the fifth time! Quit leading us into these traps, cat demon!"

"I'm not doing it on purpose;" says Ramesses hiding behind Willie, who's drawing a map on the floor; "these tunnels are full of traps."

Meliodas is laying in a causal position, watching the fight. "It's too bad those beasts are just illusions; we could eat them."

"Stop talking about your stomach!" shouts Inuyasha; "You could help me, instead of just laying around doing nothing."

"You said you didn't need any help;" Meliodas smirks; "You've obviously got this. Besides, I need to save what little energy I have left."

Inuyasha's about to attack Meliodas. "Knock it off!" shouts Willie; "Seriously!"

Willie is looking in his notebook and drawing a map on the floor. "That way was a dead end. This one had an electrical field blocking it. This one lead to tombs."

"How long have we been wondering around down here?!" shouts Inuyasha.

"Several hours;" answers Willie. Ramesses tries to remain hidden from the half-demon's angry eyes.

"This is a waste of time;" Inuyasha draws his sword; "I'm trying this again."

"It didn't work the first two times;" says Meliodas.

"Shut your trap!" Before Willie can say anything, Inuyasha tries to smash his way through the ceiling. Just as before, it turns his power back on him and gives him a bad electrical shock.

"I already told him that wouldn't work;" says Ramesses. Inuyasha looks furiously at the cat demon, who gets underneath Willie's cloak. "I declare sanctuary."

"On me?" ask Willie.

"Well, you're a Christian monk."

"Get out of there!" Willie gets Ramesses out of his clothes.

"Where is it you're taking us again?" ask Inuyasha, exasperated.

"To the Demon Queen, she'll help us."

Meliodas is surprised to hear that; "Did you just say, demon QUEEN?"

"Demons?" barks Inuyasha; "You're taking us to see demons!? I don't trust demons!"

"I'm a demon;" informs Meliodas.

"And I don't trust YOU!"

"I'm a demon;" adds Ramesses; "So is your companion."

"HE'S NOT MY COMPANION! He's a unless nuisance who always runs and leaves when there's danger. Where is he anyway?"

"Here." Meliodas flicks Myoga off his shoulder after sampling his blood; "A talking pig is one thing. A talking cat is another, but a talking flea, that's just too much." Meliodas grabs his aching head.

"I don't run from danger; I just like to stay safe;" says Myoga. "Useless? If it wasn't for my knowledge, Master Inuyasha, you'd never had learned about the Tassaiga. Oh, and don't forget that Shippo and Kirara are also demons."

"Shut up."

Meliodas gets up; "I've never seen a sword like that. And by the way In...a...In-yoga...

"That's Inuyasha, Meliodas!"

"Whatever. You guys sure have very weird names. Anyway, Inahsa, you're one to talk. You're also a demon."

"I'm a half-demon! Half-human, half-demon. So are you, you hypocrite."

"Huh?" Meliodas's stomach growls very painfully. He hugs his abdomen and forgets about what Inuyasha just said. "Oooooh. Willie, how much longer until we get to...that place?"

"I wish I knew Meliodas." The monk grabs Ramesses and makes him look at the hand drawn map. "Any of this refresh that rusty old memory of yours?"

"I'm not old." Ramesses then notices Meliodas looking at him intently, drooling. "Ah, Meliodas, if you really are desperate..."

"You're not feeding him 2,000-year-old burial scrapes Ramesses."

"Gosh NO!" replies Inuyasha.

"Did you say, 2,000-year-old scrapes?" Meliodas is actually debating that one. "I doubt even Hawk would eat those."

"I have;" admits Ramesses; "I mean I was sick for over a week."

"Never mind." Meliodas actually looks disappointed. He then yawns and rubs his eyes. "Man, I'm so ravenous and exhausted. I'm going to catch some shut eye."

"You're exhausted?" snaps Inuyasha; "You've been riding on my back the whole time! Not to mention I've been doing all the fighting."

Meliodas lays down and is fast asleep within seconds.

"Oh, come on! We don't have time for this." Inuyasha tries to shake the dragon sin awake, only to end up being cuddled in his arms. Inuyasha forces his way out, whipping off the spot on his cheek where he got kissed. "YUCK!"

"He's just missing his fiancé;" explains Willie; "He did it to me and Ramesses too."

"Don't remind me."

"That's pathetic;" states the half-demon, catching himself in the middle of a yawn. Willie also yawns. He slaps his head trying to stay awake.

"Prehaps you guys should get some rest too;" suggest Ramesses.

I agree Master Inuyasha;" adds Myoga; "You look beat."

"No, I'm NOT!" Inuyasha forces back another oncoming yawn; "We don't have time to rest."

Willie is literally on his last legs and can barely keep his eyes open. "Perhaps we should make time. Maybe some sleep will clear this cat's memory."

"Humph, I doubt it." Non the less, Inuyasha lays down and is out cold within seconds. Willie puts his cloak on top of Meliodas, whose shivering, and turns his robe into warm pajamas. Before long, all five are asleep.

A little while later, Scout appears. They are way off course of the demon realm, but Scout knows exactly where they're at and where to find it. Before she goes, she kneels over Meliodas to look at him. She sobs and despite wanting to feel his face, she doesn't touch him. No longer wearing her shades, she whips the tears from her eyes and gets up. As she turns the corridor, she takes one last look at Meliodas. Her eyelids lower softy over her emerald, green eyes (exact same color as Meliodas and Zeldris), and she's on her way.