Preparing for Battle

My eyes fluttered open. I stretched out, feeling more refreshed than I had in 3,000 years.

When I got downstairs, Meliodas was still cleaning up, and Hendrickson was helping him.

"Hey," I said. "Need any help?"

Meliodas waved. "If you could clean down the tables it'd be a great help."

I took a rag and began wiping down the tables, humming to myself.

Suddenly Merlin's Sacred Treasure glowed and her hologram appeared. "Good news. Seems I've just pinpointed his location."

"You sure?" Meliodas asked.

"Yes. His current power level is 50,000. 55? Hold on, now it's 60. It just keeps rising."

My eyes widened.

"No doubt about it. That's Escanor," Meliodas declared.

I looked between the two of them rapidly. "Just who the hell is this guy?"

Merlin looked at me then, like she was just noticing my presence. "The Lion Sin of Pride Escanor is, well, as his title suggests, prideful. He has the most extraordinary powers when the sun comes up, giving him more and more power as the day goes on. He is very much aware of how powerful he he is, and sees others as inferior to him. At night...well, I'll leave you to see for yourself."

Meliodas laughed. "Should we go after him?"

Merlin shook her head. "I've lost his signal, though I sense we'll run into him soon enough. For now we lay low and weigh our plans."

"Where's King?" I asked. "I have something I need to ask him."

"He set out while you were sleeping, saying there was something he needed to accomplish. He's still quite suspicious of me," Meliodas said.

"Oh."

"Which doesn't even make sense! Why is he mad at me but still fine with you? We're siblings! Whatever thing he thinks I'm hiding would be your secret too. But no, I'm the one hiding something."

I shrugged. "Well, you are."

"That's not the point!"

I laughed. "Loosen up, Meliodas. He'll be fine eventually."

The door suddenly opened and Elizabeth burst in, everyone else in tow.

"Sir Meliodas!" she said, panting. "These flyers were falling all over town."

Meliodas gestured for her to hand it over, and began to read. "'In the coming days, a great Fighting Festival will be held in Vaizel. The declared winner of this event will be given the right to have any wish granted'."

Hawk snorted. "Hold on. Isn't Vaizel that town Diane flattened like a pancake?"

"I gotta admit, that prize they're offering sounds pretty tempting," Meliodas mumbled. "Maybe I'll expand the tavern."

"Oh, come on! It has to be a scam!" Howzer shouted.

"So you think the Ten Commandments are behind this?" Hawk asked.

"No doubt about it! Can you think of anyone else who would do something as crazy as getting Demons to hand out flyers?"

"Meliodas, no matter how you look at it-" Hawk started, but was interrupted.

"No matter how you look at it, it's a trap," Hendrickson cut in.

"I WAS GONNA SAY THAT!" Hawk yelled in outrage.

"Alright guys, I've got an idea," Meliodas declared. "Since Escanor's signal just vanished into thin air, why don't we stop by?"

"Are you serious?" Hendrickson asked. "Do you have some kind of plan, or...?"

Meliodas slammed his fist into his open hand in determination. "Nope! Just sounds like fun."

"You're unbelievable," I said, holding my head.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••We continued to travel for about three more hours before we reached the town of Vaizel. I used that time to get a change of clothes from Merlin, and have some food in our systems before we arrived. My own cooking, of course, which I had to do in a bit of a rush, but was careful all the same.

"This is amazing!" everyone cheered in unison.

"Throw away Meliodas, you're all we need!" Hawk yelled.

"Just wait until she decides to make pork rinds," Meliodas retorted.

I grinned proudly and placed my hands on my hips. "Not the time, guys! Eat up and be strong for the festival."

I was receiving empty plates within two minutes.

"Can I please have some more?" Howzer asked politely.

I smiled. "You know I wouldn't say no to that cute face of yours, but unfortunately we're here."

"Welcome to Vaizel!" Meliodas announced.

Howzer looked at me, astonished. "How did-"

"Call it intuition. Go and get ready now."

He gave me a little salute, smiling, and took off.

We all equipped ourselves and headed out.

Meliodas jogged to my side. "So the last time we were here, nobody knew who the Sins really were, since we were still fugitives, and we were trying to win Diane's hammer Gideon back. Ban was in charge of signing us up and gave us the stupidest fucking names."

"What were they?"

"I was Meliodaf," he said.

I snorted. "Meliodaf?"

"I know, right? He'd named himself Baaan, and King was given the most conspicuous name. Old Fart."

I burst out laughing, holding my sides. "What the fuck is Baaan? Is it like Ban but moaned out?"

"You idiot," he laughed too.

"And Old Fart? Let me guess, King and Ban are inseparable, aren't they?"

"Thick as thieves."

"Maybe I should come up with the names this time," I suggested.

Meliodas' smile faded. "I don't think it'll be so easy. I have a hunch."

I narrowed my eyes. "I think I have the same hunch."

"Gloxinia and Drole are the masterminds of this little festival, and is probably, among other things, a lure-in for me and you."

"Yeah."

"I don't need to remind you that this has to be between the two of us."

I nodded. "Drole's Magical Eye."

"So we just have to wait for an opening before we strike. Today we take out two Commandments."

I nodded again, fiercely.

"Until then, continue to keep people oblivious by showing nonchalance."

"Got it."

Message relayed, he slinked back to let Elizabeth catch up to him as I continued forward.

Suddenly I felt the presence of someone next to me. I turned and saw Gowther looking at me quizzically.

"Uh, hey, Gowther," I said awkwardly .

"Greetings, Prelialduis. I have a few questions, if you don't mind."

I nodded. "Go ahead."

"I am not sure if you are aware, but I am a doll," he began.

"I heard a thing or two about it."

"As such, I am still learning about things like emotion and relationships. It's why I erased Diane's memories. Apparently that was wrong, however."

Now I looked at him in interest. "Do you really have difficulty reading basic social cues?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Uh huh," I said. "And, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't emotions and feelings part of a person's EQ?"

Gowther nodded. "Their emotional quotient, yes."

"So even if you learn them mentally, they won't manifest like a normal human's would. It would have to be a thought process to do something a human would see as instinct."

Gowther eyed me, seemingly impressed. "Correct, Miss Prelialduis. That's why I'm participating in today's festival. If I emerge victorious, I can wish for a heart of my own to feel emotions for me."

I smiled at him. Gowther was a tad strange, no doubt. But he only did what he thought was necessary. He had no ulterior motives.

Also, he looked disturbingly familiar.

He'd clammed up completely after that. I guess he didn't want to ask me any questions anymore?

"Hey, Gowther. Didn't you want to ask me some questions?" I asked, prompting him.

"I apologize, my mind had drifted. Yes, I would. What would you describe your relationship with the Captain like?"

My eyebrow raised. "Um, like normal siblings?"

"And what do 'normal siblings' act like?" he pushed.

"Well, we fight a lot, insult each other, but we'd die and kill for each other. We also know each other better than anyone else. In summary."

"So it is a dynamic of 'only the sibling can hurt the other sibling, but if anyone else does they're'...what is the word here...'screwed'?"

I showed him a thumbs up. "Yes, exactly."

"Intriguing," Gowther muttered in thought.

"It's not as black and white as that, but that's the gist of it."

We had arrived at the outskirts of Vaizel.

"Why are we leaving Vaizel?" I asked Meliodas behind me.

"Apparently, the arena is just outside of town," he replied.

We continued walking until we arrived at some tunnel. When we emerged there was a massive maze in front of us.

"Woah," we all echoed.

All things aside, this festival seemed kind of fun.

Without further ceremony we headed in. Meliodas picked up a screaming Elizabeth and began carrying her.

Suddenly, as we gained traction, the ground began to shake. I tensed up, getting ready to grab my blades.

A bunch of spiky balls, large and ferocious, suddenly beelined towards us at alarming speed. Hawk and Elizabeth screamed and we all took off running, Elizabeth still in Meliodas' arms. Then they got too close and Meliodas attempted to throw Elizabeth out of the way, and then...

Then the ground gave way in sections, separating all of us.