Iris Tells Meliodas/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's 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, which has her deeply concerned. For a moment Elizabeth even felt wet as if 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?

Has Iris found him and revealed who she is?

"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, 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 Zeldris are 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 examines her and she's in the clear, 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 only taken a couple bites 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'll help them," agrees Elizabeth; "where are they?"

"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."

"I sure do hope so;" says Wild.

22222222222222222222222222

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, who just a little while ago was the tallest, prettiest, and most maturely developed of the three (if very dehydrated and a little emaciated) is 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 Stormy is Artemis's step-daughter and the blood offspring of a demon and a dwarf-human hybrid. Arwen, with pinkish-purple skin, white hair, pointy ears, and 4 fingers on each hand, is an elf and adopted daughter of Artemis. Apolline, the biological daughter of Artemis and her late husband, is half-goddess and half-demon. She 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.

"That's some family they've got there;" says Ban.

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 about to agree, then looks at her sister. "Stormy, 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. We 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 do. Suffering isn't something to embrace."

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

"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; "If it really is Caelestis that tried to curse us as you say, then we should be out there fighting by Mom's side? Why would she show up after all this time?"

"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 us 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;" says Stormy; "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, 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. 

22222222222222222222222

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."

"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. "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. I sort of set her and my dad up, and the rest is history."

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

"We adopted Arwen 20 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! 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. War has a cruel way of dividing families, Barbatoes and Caelestis could never see, or didn't want to see, a path or purpose other than endless bloodshed."

"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 until the town turned over 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 survived, 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!"

"Too late for that now;" adds Arwen.

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 Elizabeth'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 like our friend 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, used to look up to him. In fact, you had a crush on him."

Apolline hates being reminded of that. "Enough Arwen! That was before I started sensing what he's really like. I'll bet you he's in cahoots Caelestis, I'm don't know why, I just feel it."

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 even at half of her full power at that time.

"It's time for you three 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. 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."

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

"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."

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 and Arwen asking for food and water.

22222222222222222222222

Iris returns to the group to find a fiasco. Meliodas keeps trying to grab Hawk, asking if he could spare some of his meat. Hawk is hiding behind anybody shaking with fear. When he realizes that she's back, Hawk swims to her in tears.

"Scout, please do something. Meliodas has lost his mind! He's even tried to eat Inyuasha's and Gowther. Please set him straight."

Once again confusing Inuyasha's dog-like features and fire-rat hair robe as an animal, Meliodas in a half daze state tries to eat the robe again. Inuyasha has had enough and slashes his claws deep into the dragon sin's face. Meliodas feels the pain and somewhat comes back to his senses. Gowther catches his captain as Meliodas touches his face and feels the blood. He has tears in his eyes as he looks at everybody. Meliodas feels embarrassed and is very emotional conflicted.

Willie informs Iris that it had started as Meliodas cursing the Supreme Deity and his father. He had remembered his encounter with her and what she had said about his mother. Realizing that he really did have a mother and that he's father probably forced her to have sexual relations with him, Meliodas had almost lost control of his wrath when his hunger pangs kicked in again. He then wanted to eat and drink to cope with his overwhelming emotions. He then confused not only Hawk but started to see dog-like Inuysasha and for some reason Gowther as food and went completely haywire.

Meliodas puts his face in his hand, apologizing. He's never been this famished and emotional confused before. Gowther even mentions that his captain feels lighter, plus his face is pale and showing signs of becoming emancipated. Everyone, including Hawk, Inuyasha and Nuri, turn from being angry and frustrated too sympathetic and worried.

"I can't take this anymore!" Meliodas admits hitting the water with his fist. "I must eat something NOW!"

Iris gets to him before he can do anything else. She has no food, but touches her brother's face, heeling the wound. At first Meliodas thinks that Elizabeth has finally come to him, but the blurry silhouette doesn't belong to his beloved. Barely making out the black shades and mask, Meliodas realizes this is the masked stranger in front of him. For some mysterious reason, he feels the urge to embrace her, and melts into her arms. Somehow, he feels better just being in this stranger's embrace. It's warm, gentle, and comforting, like Elizabeth but very different as well. Vaguely remembering the others saying that this stranger was a relative, he looks at the masked face with wonder.

"Mo...Mother? Mother is that you?"

Everybody gets sympathetic looks on their faces. "Oh Meliodas;" says Hawk. Iris holds up her palm as to silence him, then picks up her brother and takes him down river. Hawk, Gowther, Willie, and even Inuyasha start to go after them.

"Stop all of you!" Nuri, holding Melidy, yells real firmly. "Give them space. Let her do this privately."

Meliodas feels like he's in the twilight zone. He thinks he's dreaming about his mother holding him. He has actually dreamed about this many times over the years, but never remembered any of those when he was awake, at least until now. Then suddenly go underneath a cool waterfall, which forces Meliodas to fully wake up. He coughs as Iris props him up on some stairs, remaining almost chest deep in water. His face becomes contorted with pain as his stomach rumbles again. He places both palms on his belly and looks at the stranger.

"Who...who are you? Are you, my mother? Have you come back for me?"

Iris takes off their mother's locket and puts it in her brother's hand. Thinking that it's candy, Meliodas shoves it into his mouth.

"NO!"

Meliodas immediately spits it out with a bitter look. "What the hell is this? This isn't food." Iris stares bewildered for a few seconds, but then starts laughing softly. Meliodas is a little embarrassed at first, but then joins in with the laughter. "How embarrassing. Did I make you laugh?"

Iris is still laughing but pulls herself together. She opens up the locket and points to a picture. Miraculously, Meliodas's vision clears up and he perfectly sees the picture of...HER! It can't be. The dream lady! Practically his own face looking at him, but female. Same eyes, same nose, same checks, same chin, same mischievous smile. Meliodas stares at the picture, rubbing his fingers over it. Is this even real?

Iris points her own finger at it, and finally manages to whisper the word; "Mama."

"Mama?" Meliodas looks at her; "Are you for real? Gowther, this isn't a joke, is it? Zeldris, is that you? When did you learn about...? I'm still dreaming, I must be."

Meliodas's clouded mind is literally coming up with every possible excuse. He looks at the picture again, tears falling down his checks. He then notices the picture next to it. IT'S HIM. At least it looks like him. He looks no older then a 2, maybe 3-year-old human toddler. The face is exactly the same, even his hair is exactly the same. The only difference is that his mischievous smile contains buck spaced baby teeth. He can't recall ever seeing a picture of himself this young. "Is that really me? Where did you get this? Are you really my mother? Her reincarnation? Please tell me."

Iris barely squeaks out the word no, the flips the mid-piece of the locket to show two more pictures. Meliodas gasps. That serious, stoic black-haired baby has to be Zeldris, no doubt about it. But there's another picture. A sweet, sleeping baby no more than a newborn. It looks as if it could be Meliodas, but the short hair is sun-kissed auburn, just like...

He looks at the stranger. Her hair's a slightly darker color, but it's wet. He does a triple take. "Is this...you? Why would a fourth picture be in here. Are you a cousin or some..." Meliodas suddenly recalls Gowther saying a strange word, a word he had laughed off. "No...NO! It can't be...it's just me and Zel...we don't have..."

The stranger removes the mask, then the shades. She slowly opens her eyelids, revealing her emerald, green eyes. Meliodas feels like he's about to have a panic attack and puts his palm over a couple of his raising hearts. It's HER, or is it? Iris is a carbon copy of Isabella (except her hair color and curls), and for Meliodas it's like looking in a sex swapped mirror (again except for the hair color.) It's uncanny. It's...not possible, is it?

"Who...who are you? Are you my..."

"Sister;" comes a gentle, very scratchy voice. Meliodas touches her face to make sure she's real, then his brain suddenly fries, goes blank, and he faints. His stomach speaks with a furious vengeance, practically shaking the tunnel.

"Meliodas, are you...?" Hawk has arrived. He sees Iris's face and he's...well shocks not exactly the word. He shouldn't be surprised that they look twins, but still, it's a surprise. Plus, Iris is unbearably beautiful. Why hid such a pretty face.

Hawk hears gasps behind him. This is the first time Willie's ever seeing her face, despite having known her for years. This is the face Inuyasha got a glimpse of the other day. Gowther had gotten a glimpse of her face earlier, but now that he's really seeing it, he finds her beauty is so striking.

They all think that Iris is a beauty from heaven. Nuri is secretly proud of her and even manages a smile.

GRRRROOOWWWLLLL!

That deafening growl shakes the tunnel again, bringing everybody back to reality. Iris realizes that everybody has arrived and is looking at her face! She shyly turns her head the opposite direction, covering her face with her hands.

"HEY! There you all are!" comes a high, squeaky voice and what sounds like hooves coming their direction. It's Bluey, partly wet and wearing a pink bathrobe. "What took you guys so long? Maa. I've been waiting for you. That sounds catastrophic. Let's get your friend fed right away."

"BLUEY!" says Hawk; "You're ok! Where's the exit?"

"Down here Pinky Hawk. Maa. Follow me. I forgot to tell you that this whole area is made of titanium sea prism stone. Nobody with magical or physic powers will detect your presence here. They just searched this whole area, so I doubt they'll be back anytime soon. And there's a secret room you can all retreat too if the searchers return. I've got some friends helping. Don't worry, they can be trusted. Let's go." Bluey starts to lead them down the tunnel, then seems to remember something. "Oh, Mister Dog Half-Demon, your friend's down there taking a hot spring mineral bath. You need to speak with him, he's a pervert."

An angry look appears on the Inyuasha's face; "Myoga!"

Everyone starts to follow Bluey. Nuri's in no rush to trust this goat, although it is true about the titanium sea prison stone, which is most likely why nobody has checked out this tunnel yet. They probably will soon though." Iris picks up Meliodas and gets back into the river, following closely behind.

"What's your name?"

She stops. That was Meliodas's voice. He partly opens his eyes and smiles at her. "What's your name, please?"

She returns a kind smile. "Iris."

Meliodas closes his eyes again and rest his head on her shoulder. "Iris, that's beautiful." She has tears of joy flowing down her face as she silently thanks God. She's been waiting for this moment her entire life. Now if only Zeldris, and Jasmine, were here, the picture would finally be complete for her.