Walking Volcano

Meliodas slowly opens his eyes, surprised to see the face of his best friend Ban staring at him.

"Welcome back Capt'n."

"Ban?! Where's Elizabeth?"

"She's downstairs. She's fine Capt'n don't worry. I insisted that my ugly face be the first one you wake up too."

"And it's as ugly as ever;" Meliodas laughs as loud, angry growl sound fills the room. "All man, I'm so hungry I could eat two whole pigs the size of Hawk. Maybe even Wild."

"Well, the mayor and his wife are ordering dinner if you're interested."

Meliodas leaps out of bed; "Of course. Let's go."

"Speaking of pigs, I wonder how Master's doing."

"Who knows. Knowing Hawk, I'm sure he wishes he was back here eating scraps."

"From what I've heard, you don't even leave scraps anymore for Master to eat if he was here. But I'd make sure he'd get the best."

Meliodas snickers; "If I don't eat it all first that is."

They go downstairs to find Elizabeth, Diane (human size), Elaine, and King in the common area having tea with the mayor's wife. They are in their home.

"Captain, your finally awake!" Diane gives Meliodas a huge hug.

"Yo Diane. Long time no see."

"Didn't we just see you guys' last week?" says King.

"Nice to see you too King;" Meliodas says in a sarcastic tone; "Yo Elaine, you being a bad girl?"

Elaine's eyes widen; "I hope not."

"It was a joke, Elaine."

"That's a joke?"

Ban gives Meliodas a 'knock' on the head; "What did I tell you about talking to Elaine like that Capt'n?"

"Jeez, can't take a joke anymore now can we. You're going soft Ban you know that?"

"Why you..."

"Guys;" Elizabeth gets between them; "We're guest in this house, please." Meliodas does his pervert routine with her, much to everybody's annoyance.

"I see you're finally awake;" comes the voice of Athena, the mayor's wife. She offers Meliodas some tea.

"Oh, ah thanks. I prefer alcohol but thanks."

"Meliodas, don't be rude;" says Elizabeth.

"Sorry;" Meliodas accepts the tea, his stomach growling again. "By the way, where's the food?"

"It should be here any minute;" answers the mayor's wife; "Sorry, I ordered in. I wasn't expecting company for dinner. Plus, I'm not the best of cooks."

"Couldn't be as bad as my cooking;" Meliodas grins.

"Nobody's food could be as bad as the captain's;" says King.

"Meliodas, it really is you!" the mayor enters the room.

"Gilbert? Well well, I haven't seen you since you were a lad. Looks like you've traded your frizzy red hair for white and your youthful freckles for wrinkles."

"So, the rumors were true;" replies Gilbert; "You haven't aged a day. Miss Elizabeth hasn't aged either I see."

Elizabeth giggles.

"Actually, she has, several times over;" replies Meliodas; "And well I am actually aging now, but I'll age rather slowly. I'll be looking like this for quite some time."

Mayor Gilbert clears his throat; "Yea well, I just wanted to thank you for saving our town."

"It was nothing."

"Yea, you and Elizabeth actually got taken out;" Ban says sarcastically.

Meliodas crosses his arms; "Well he was a tough opponent."

"Actually, I think person's a she;" says Elaine.

Meliodas is surprised. "Really? How could you tell? I sure don't remember seeing any boobs."

"I tried to read her mind;" answers Elaine; "but that's all I got before she mentally blocked me out."

The doorbell rings, the food has arrived. Meliodas has to be restrained as the food gets lad out, then he ravenously digs in.

"Hey Captain, save some for the rest of us;" says Ban.

The host bring a few bottles of wine, apologizing for not being able to offer more drinks as the intruder had destroyed most of the town's booze.

"Why would anybody do a stupid thing like that?" ask Ban.

Gilbert shrugs his shoulders; "I don't know. The tavern owner offered the stranger a free mug as we do with all our visitors. He, or she, took the mug and throw it at him, then went on a violent rampage all over town. Thankfully, only the town's two taverns and 3 brew houses suffered any significant damage, and Miss Elizabeth here managed to heal up all the injured."

"We'll stay a couple of days and help you rebuild;" Ban offers; "If it's ok with Elaine."

"Sure;" answers the fairy; "as long as we're the first to taste your next batch of ale."

"Deal."

King shakes his head. What is Ban turning his sister into?

"I don't think we ordered enough food;" says Athena.

"What?" All the serving bowls and plates are bare as Meliodas stuffs the last piece of cheesecake into his mouth.

"More food please!"

Everybody gasps, yet Athena gets up. "I'll go get some more."

Meliodas smiles; "Thanks. I'd really like some more of that scrumptious cheesecake and beef pie please. Oh, and will you please get us some chocolate balls, ice cream, chocolate syrup, honey, and several dessert toppings? Elizabeth and I need them for our nightly ritual.

"Meliodas!" Elizabeth says sternly. Everybody else gives the captain funny looks.

"What?"

"Captain that's disgusting;" says King.

Meliodas sticks out his tongue.

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Some distance from Avalon, a young servant is on his way home from another long workday at his Lord's Manor. As he approaches his master's private pond, he's surprised to see the silhouette of somebody standing in it, attempting to hand fish.

"Excuse me Sir. I beg your pardon, but you can't fish here. That's Lord Locksley's private pond and nobody can hunt or fish on his Lordship's land without his permission."

He receives no reply.

"Excuse me, Sir, can you hear me?" He moves closer; "I'm asking you kindly Sir, please leave now."

Without looking up, the stranger lifts up their hand and shoots red fire, narrowly avoiding the servant.

"Hey, what's the big idea? I'm going to ask you one more time to put that fish back into the pond or I'll have to inform..."

Fireball hits him on the chest, burning him and his clothes. He hollers in pain and runs away, making it back to his master's house. He's severely burnt. Lord Locksley is furious and take a small band out to find this intruder. They find him or her sitting next to the pond, eating the captured fish and seemingly repairing a torn cloak. The Lord challenges the intruder, who looks up with burning red eyes. The Lord and his servants brace themselves, but nothing hits them. Perplexed, the intruder has returned to repairing the cloak. Suddenly, the group feels something abnormally burning hot on their toes. A slow-moving glob of liquefied fire is eating through their boots and burning away at their feet. Everybody, including Lord Locksley, retreats.

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Back in the city, Wingless smells something awful. "Oh no, tell me you're not cooking again."

"It's not considered cooking;" replies Hawkwings; "Want some?"

"EW! Not your homemade garlic, red pepper mushroom taffy! How can you even eat that stuff?"

Hawkwings takes a bit; "There's nothing wrong with this. It's better than the pickle black pepper taffy."

"Don't remind me, you...zero taste buds...harpy with hawk wings."

"I keep telling you they're eagle wings, not hawk wings, Willie."

"I've told you a million times never to call me Willie!"

"Sure, Freddie."

"Herman!"

"Alright, Wildelfredico." Herman packs the taffy into his satchel. "That should be enough. Ok, let's go."

"Go where?"

"To Britannia, of course."

"WHAT? You mean right now, behind the bishop's back?"

"You're the one who complained about not getting there first."

"How do you plan to get there without flying for a week without the bishop's magic? Besides, we're supposed to stay here cleaning up 'YOUR' mess?

"Please, it's more 'HER' mess than mine, and where is she now?" He takes out a bottle of what looks like purple salt.

Wildelfredrico's eyes bug out. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!? Remember the last time you used that salt outside of a full moon? We ended up in that jungle in the Americas. It took Bishop weeks to locate us."

"The moon's almost full."

Wildelfredrico snatches the bottle; "At least two more nights till the moons full. Although by then she'll probably find it."

Herman shrugs; "If you insist. Fortunately, I've got a backup plan."

"What back up plan?"

"Rocket power baby!"

"WHAT?!"

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The next morning, Meliodas and Athena walk out of the house and put the trash bins at the end of the walkway.

"All man that was great;" Meliodas says with a huge grin, patting his stomach. "And I thought you said last night you couldn't cook."

"I didn't say I couldn't;" replies Athena; "And your friend helped."

"Yea, he's the best."

"I must say Meliodas, I've never even seen our local wrestling team pack away so many pancakes and sausages, certainly not drenched with so much syrup and gravy."

"What can I say I was starving."

"You could've at least helped with the dishes, Capt'n." Ban throws dirty dish rages and apron into the outdoor laundry basket.

"I did just help Ban, I brought out some trash. Oh, and I licked clean all the bowls and plates for you."

"Thanks a lot, Capt'n."

"You're welcome, Ban."

"Hey, you're still here?" King descends from the sky; "Are you guys going to help rebuild or what?"

"Cut me some slack King I had a million dishes to wash;" Ban informs.

"What's your excuse, Captain?"

"Ah, you know what Ban we've wasted enough time this morning. Let's get to work shall we."

"We do mean 'WE'?"

"Thanks again for your hospitality Athena. Later." Meliodas takes off, his comrades right behind.

"Hey King, how come you're not at the tavern?" ask Meliodas.

"Playing hokey, are we?" smirks Ban.

King gets his familiar look of embarrassment; "What? No, I'm not. We were taking a little tea break and I offered to get some more honey, that's all."

"Sure it is;" his comrades say in unison.

"Cut it out!"

"You may look a lot more mature on the outside;" grins Meliodas; "but underneath you're the same old King."

"That's enough!"

Just then, they hear a strange sound rush high above them and see a thin trail of smoke across the sky.

"What was that?" ask Ban.

"That sounded like a firecracker before it goes off;" replies King.

"Who'd be shooting off firecrackers in broad daylight?"

"Who knows;" answers Meliodas; "Anyway, race ya."

The demon takes off laughing.

"Hey Captain, no fair!"

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The rocket smashes down into the ocean several miles from shore. A little while later, two figures in protective coveralls stumble out of the sea, one desperate to get out of his.

"I can't breathe nor float in this stupid suit!" Wildelfredrico gasp for breath removing his helmet. "How could you forget to install an ejector or parachutes you Moran?"

"I forgot big deal;" Herman removes his mask; "You can't swim anyway."

"Get me out of this stupid suit!"

"If it wasn't for this stupid suit, you'd blow into smithereens in point decimal of a second, Willie!"

"I'd rather take my chances with the transport spell."

"Well, it's a full moon tomorrow night, we have until then to find the relic."

"And how are we supposed to find it, in two days? In fact, where are we? Give me the map."

"What map?"

"The one I gave you."

"Oh, you wanted me to bring it?"

"What do you mean? You didn't bring the map?!" Wildelfredrico shouts in an angry tone.

"Chill partner;" assures Herman; "We don't need the map. Photographic memory, remember? We'll ask where we are in the next town, and if needed, ask for directions."

Willie shakes his head; "You really are an idiot!"

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Off the shores of far Northern Britannia, lies the island of Caledonia, once home to a great civilization of magic users with Belialuin as its capital. Merlin glazes at the few remaining rubbles of ruin of what was once her home. Very few present day Britannians know that this island even exists as it's always covered by a thick misty fog, unseen by the very few adventures who dare to venture to this cold, mostly uninhabited northern region.

Every one hundred years, Merlin returns to her homeland, and here alone she lets out her true emotions of the grief and guilt she usually suppresses. The boar sin has only a few happy memories here, most of them revolving around the few of her mother, who died when she was 4, marking the beginning of Merlin's emotional and mental emptiness. After the death of her mother, Merlin's father completely closed his heart off towards anybody, especially his own children, never showing them any sort of parental love and often pretending like his children didn't even exist. That is until Merlin showed a rare gift for tremendous magical power and potential, but further neglecting his other child.

As Merlin kneels down at a stone plate marking the site where her family home once stood; she lets out a flood of tears as she says the prayer her mother taught her. It's been over 1800 years since she last shed a tear here. It must have something to do with her recent experiences with Elizabeth and the other Sins, whom Merlin is reluctant to admit as the closest thing she's had to family in 3,000 years. Even though they forgave her, Merlin hasn't spoken to any of her former comrades in 9 months. They didn't even bother to call her during their most recent battle against the Supreme Deity, not that they really needed her, nor did she really care, so she tells herself.

Merlin cleans the stone plate and arranges fresh white-water lilies, her mother's favorite flowers.

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A portal opens on the northern shores of Britannia. Zeldris, brother of Meliodas and newly crowned Demon King, along with his lover, Gelda the vampire, emerge and step onto the chilly wet sand.

"Finally, we're alone;" says a very wearily looking Zeldris, closing the portal; "Jeez, can't get any privacy in the demon realm."

Gelda rubs her lover's head; "Just relax, you need it. Even the Demon King needs down time once in a while."

"It's so hard to relax with all those rebellions going on;" replies Zeldris; "We put down one, three more seem to rise up."

"I know it's hard, but let's forget about all that right now;" Gelda kisses Zeldris and he smiles.

The lovers spend the whole morning just walking along the beach, occasionally putting their feet into the cold water, hardly noticing the chilly air. Since returning to the demon realm just three months ago to reign as the new demon king, Zeldris has barely had time to breath. To say that the demon realm is in a chaotic state is truly an understatement. While many have excepted him as their new king, others haven't. Many of the humanoid people of the demon race are against each other, and civil wars seen to be in every corner of their realm, as well as rebellions and resistance groups.

If it wasn't for Gelda, Zeldris probably would've already lost his mind.

Suddenly, they hear a scream; "MOMMY!"

"Lydia!"

A child is in the water, being dragged further and further away by the waves. Her mother is also in the water but gets trapped in an undertow.

"Gelda, get the mother." Zeldris swims for the child while Gelda rescues the mother. A couple minutes later, Zeldris returns to shore with the little girl in his arms.

"MOMMY!" Lydia holds out her arms as her mother takes her.

"Lydia, I was so scared!"

"I'm sorry Mommy."

"I'm sorry too. I should've been watching you more closely."

The two are shivering, and Gelda offers to wrap her cape around them.

"Thank you so much. If you hadn't shown up, I don't know what we would've done."

Zeldris embarrassedly blushes while Gelda answers; "You're very welcome. We didn't expect to see anybody here."

"Neither did we;" replies the mother; "My daughter and I come here this time of year while my husband is at sea fishing. It's usually safe, but for some reason there's a serious undertow today and rougher waves than usual."

"You need to warm up;" says Zeldris; "Do you want us to escort you home?"

"Our cabin is just up that way, but it would be our pleasure if you could join us for some warm tea and sponge cake."

Zeldris was about to decline, but Gelda excepts. An hour later, they emerge from the cabin and promise to visit again. Gelda gives Zeldris a funny yet thoughtful look as he watches mother and daughter disappear behind the door.

"What?"

"The way you looked at them."

"I don't know what you mean."

Gelda smiles; "Yes you do, you were watching them the whole time and trying to hide your smiles behind the teacup and cake bites. What's on your mind?"

Zeldris gives a little huff; "It's just that, I don't know. I was watching the mother and daughter interact and it made me wonder about my own mother. I never experienced motherly love, or even fatherly love at that. The closest thing I had to a parent was Cusack, and he was more of a strict drill sergeant then surrogate father, but he was utterly loyal towards me, and I guess he cared for me in his own twisted way. Meliodas had several nannies who spoiled and over pampered him, but I don't believe he remembers our mother either."

"You brought this up before;" says Gelda; "You don't even know who she is, or was, am I right?"

Zeldris shakes his head; "No. I was forbidden from asking about Mother. Her identity is a mystery to me. I don't think Meliodas knows either, he's never even mentioned her. Father never mentioned her. The only time I can recall her ever being mentioned was Chandler telling Cusack that I was a weak crybaby like my mother, while Cusack said Meliodas had her twisted sense of humor and natural stupidly. That's all. Without Cusack and Chandler, there's nobody left to tell me about her."

Suddenly, an extremely unpleasant feeling comes upon them. The air feels even colder and heavy, the waves seem even fiercer, and the natural magical particles feel unstable. The last time they felt this kind of unrest was when Meliodas briefly had the tremendous ruler power equal to that of the Demon King before giving it up.

"Zeldris, what is that?"

"It's coming from a few miles inland. Stay close to Gelda."

They quietly and carefully follow the energy source. As they get closer, they come upon what looks like ancient ruins. They get down on their hands and knees and proceed with caution, carefully hiding amongst the ruins and trying to give off as little energy presence as possible. Zeldris peeks through the rubble and sees somebody digging in front of a large boulder with ancient writing on it. This person is dressed in a simple black robe with what appears to be a long and skinny ambiguous build. Extremely long, straight black hair hides the face. Zeldris feels extremely strong, dangerous power coming from this person and gently nudges Gelda to go back.

Fifteen minutes later, they make it back to the beach.

"I don't like this Zel."

"I don't either dear. Something's really not right, I can feel it."

Gelda suddenly realizes where they are. "Zel, I recognize this beach. Beyond the fog out there should be the island of Caledonia, the Kingdom of Belialuin.

"Oh yes, I remember now. You used to go there with your father as a child, right?"

"Yes. My parents where friends of the chief. They used to visit us too. He had two children; one was Merlin. You meet her a few times, remember?"

Zeldris shrugs his shoulders; "Hardly. I remember glancing her briefly a couple of times, but I never spoke to her, not back then."

Gelda suddenly screams in horrifying pain and collapses. "GELDA!" Her back is crispy burnt with what appears to be liquefied fire. Zeldris turns around and sees behind them the same person, now covered by a hooded cloak with fire in her eyes.

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Herman and Willie fly through the sky, or rather in Willie's case, float, with Herman's oversized supply trunk floating next to them.

Herman's having fun with it making Willie do summersaults.

"STOP THAT!"

"Why? You're getting better. You haven't thrown up in 3 minutes."

"Just keep me straight, will you? I hate this."

"Well, I offered you the balloon and you refused;" reminds Herman.

"With the silhouette of a naked woman! Why can't you leave your nasty taste at home?"

"Hey, there's a village."

"Finally. Now get me down!"

Herman allows his partner to free fall towards the earth, stopping him just short of crashing into a small pond, suspends him in midair for a second, then plunges him into the water. Herman lands as Willie walks out of the pond.

"That wasn't funny, you lame-brain harpy."

Herman laughs; "You really need to work on your insults." He lifts his hand and Willie does a back flip back into the pond. Willie gets out again, yelling at the harpy. After drying off, he realizes that Herman's out of sight.

"Hey, stay where I can see you!"

"I'm changing."

Herman emerges from behind a tree in a friar's robe. Willie's jaw drops; "What are you doing in that outfit?"

"We have to blend in;" Herman answers putting on a bald cap. "We can't go walking around in our thobes, somebody might recognize us."

"We're 3,800 miles from home stupid! Who's going to recognize us? Anyway, friars don't have shaved heads!"

"Yes, they do, haven't you seen the pictures."

"Those were Buddhist monks stupid! And that's not even a cross you're wearing. That's the Star of David!"

"Close enough."

Willie slaps his head and looks through his own satchel; "What's all this? Way is some of your stuff in MY bag?"

"I ran out of room."

"Oh boy;" Willie dumps everything out and looks through every item.

"What are you looking for?"

"The language amulet."

"Oh, I took that out. I needed room."

Willie gets a very angry look in his eyes. "Seriously Herman, how are we supposed to talk to the locals? We don't speak British!"

"I do, a little."

"You haven't used it since you were six, and your grandmother was from the mainland on the other side of the channel. They use a different delict."

"I'm sure I can communicate. Oh, your clothes."

Willie shakes his head; "If you insist, but I'm not dressing like a fake friar. I'll dress like that peasant farmer I saw on the way."

"If you get the transformation right."

"Shut up."

Willie activates his magic and changes his appearance, or rather his clothes, to impatient to check his outfit. Herman tries his hardest not to laugh.

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In Avalon, the first tavern and two brew houses are almost completed. The tavern owner asked Diane and King (who'd mostly been creating new furniture) in particular where were they when he first built the tavern. Everybody has been working hard all day, almost everybody. King, naturally, would have preferred more breaks and even a nap or two, needing some occasional motivation from Diane to keep working. Meliodas, however, has spent more time goofing off, playing pranks, and performing panty 'checks' and checking the ladies' 'heartbeats' (much to their dismay) then doing any actual work. He finally went too far when he deliberately stole the first drink of the new ale batch from Elaine, snatching the mug that was being handed to her and drinking it.

Elaine punches Meliodas with her wind. He lands in a pile of supplies. Ban was about to give his captain the punch of punches when Elizabeth intervenes, but the look in her eyes shows that her usual endless supply of patience has run out. She grabs her lover by the shirt and threatens him with zero intimacy for a week if he doesn't behave. Meliodas attempts to laugh it off at first, she proves she's serious by slapping him with her Ark.

"Owe, should've seen that one coming;" Meliodas says rubbing the mark on his cheek.

Elizabeth then gives Meliodas some money and tells him to go on a food spree around town, to the confusion of everybody. However, they soon realize that she's doing that to get rid of him.

Mayor Gilbert approaches Elizabeth. "He's a nice guy with a such good heart, but with a twisted personality."

Elizabeth nods; "Yes I know, but I can't help but love him. At the end of the day, his flaws are actually part of his charm."

"Excuse me Mayor;" one of the townsfolk approaches; "We have a situation."

"What is it?"

"We just got word that Lord Locksley's estate was attacked last night by a strange fire person. Nobody was killed, but Lord Locksley himself and several servants and tenants were badly injured. Some of them are here now for treatment, the rest are still on the estate, unable to be transported. Much of his estate has been destroyed by 'slow moving liquid fire' and it's still slowly creeping towards his manor."

"Lord Locksley's?" states Gilbert; "but that's 40 miles from here."

Elizabeth gasp hearing this, wondering if it's the same intruder from yesterday. She quickly goes to the town infirmary and heals the wounded. She then decides to head out to the estate to heal the rest and to see what she can do about that still moving lava. The other sins, minus their captain (who hasn't been informed), are waiting for her outside.

"You shouldn't go alone Princess;" informs Ban; "Remember yesterday?"

Elizabeth nods, considering for a brief second then deciding not to bother looking for Meliodas. She decides to take Diane and King with her as their powers would be most effective against the fire and lava.

"Tell Meliodas that we'll be back soon." She flies away with King, Diane following closely behind.

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Meliodas is at the market square, stopping at every food station and shocking everybody with his ridiculously large appetite. His mouth really drools when he smells his favorite food, pork marinated in ale! They are pork hot dogs on sticks with the option of a special dipping sauce made with beer. He orders 10 of the largest dogs.

"Do you want the sauces with or without alcohol?"

"With alcohol of course;" Meliodas answers with a huge smile; "I may be light, but I'm no lightweight."

Around the square people start laughing, even the vender is trying to control himself.

Meliodas turns to see what so funny. There are two guys walking down the street. One's a short, young-looking bald guy wearing an oversize friar robe with a huge hump on his back. The other guy's even shorter and very skinny, wearing a blue and red Bavarian dress with an extremely short skirt, short cap sleeves, thigh-high stockings with red bows, and low-heel black buckle shoes. To top it all off, the young man seems to be completely obliviously to the whole thing while his partner is clearing giggling underneath his breath.

Meliodas collects his pork dogs, five in each hand, and greets them when they pass.

"Yo there, anything I can help you with?"

The two seem startled, especially Bavarian dress guy. He turns to the 'friar' and speaks to him, in words that the demon can't make out. Meliodas takes a big bite of the sauce covered pork dog, and dress guy seems grossed out. He takes another huge bite, finishing off the first dog, and dress guy looks sick as if he's about to puck. 'Friar' talks to him, again in words that Meliodas doesn't understand. Meliodas can't recall the last time he couldn't understand somebody unless they had a cold or impairment, which really baffles him. He starts on the second pork dog when the 'friar' (wearing a star instead of a cross) turns to the demon and speaks.

"Hayllo. How doo U doo? It es pleezsur too meet U fiend."

"Huh?" Meliodas would be scratching his head in confusion if his hands weren't full; "Excuse me. What did you just say?"

"Fiend, wee new twoo this. Nead distractions twoo liberality. Can ya essuresh us."

"I'm sorry, I'm might sure what you're saying. You need to speak clearer."

Dress guy speaks to friar in a very firm tone while gesturing towards Meliodas.

"Oh, by the way;" Meliodas says with his mouth full; "You might not want to go around in those outfits. Clergymen don't like fake friars and that's extremely disrespectful. Oh, and the strip club is outside town, but they're not open right now, and I don't believe they'll hire a guy in girls' clothing. I doubt the taverns will either, even though I make an exception with Gowther, I still wouldn't hire you dressed like that."

"Liberality? We go to liberality."

"What's liberality?"

Dress guy slaps his partners on the head with a book, then shows the book to Meliodas and attempts to pantomime, pointing to them, then to the book, opens it up as to read from it, then points around.

Meliodas has finished with first five dogs and starts with the other hand; "Ah, no, I'm really not much of a reader. Unless I'm reading a food or booze menu of course, or an advertisement for a festival."

Dress guy slaps his head then starts yelling at his partner again. It's only then that he happens to look down and notices his outfit. A horrified look appears on his face. He again yells at his partner and grabs him by the ear, dragging him over to an alley, with a large levitating trunk following them. Curious, Meliodas scarfs down the remaining dogs and follows them.

"YOU IDIOT! How dare you let me go around looking like this!" shouts Willie.

"Why not? It was funny;" Herman continues to snicker; "Nice legs by the way."

Willie sneers at him and changes back to normal.

Meliodas peeks at the guys from around the corner and sees the transformation; "Oh, so he can change his clothes like King. Just as I thought, they're traveling performers."

"You nitwit, you can't communicate with these people. You can't even ask for a map or where the library is."

"So, I'm a little rusty, big deal. I'll work on it."

Willie transforms into a large black cat suit, which freaks Herman out; "Hey! Don't do that. You know I hate black cats."

Willie changes back; "That's the point. Now come on, let's find that stinking library, find the ancient map, and get out of here." He snatches the bald cap off his partner's head, which surprises Meliodas. "And get rid of this stupid costume!"

Meliodas shrugs his shoulders and returns to his food spree; "Man, they really need to work on those speech impairments, they sound like they're speaking a different language or something."

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Zeldris has had the intruder pinned down with his Ominous Nebula for the past half hour. However, he doesn't know much longer he can keep this up and the intruder is showing no signs of exhaustion. The intruder reserves the worst beatings for Gelda, who's now severely burned from head to toe, almost completely naked, and in such terrible agonizing pain. They've been struggling to keep the intruder at bay, not only is her raw power perhaps equal to their own, but she also has great physical strength, seems to be even faster than Zeldris, and very skilled.

Gelda continues to put up a fight dispute her weakened state. Zeldris knows that they can't keep this up and must come up with a new plan. His power is starting to fade, and the intruder can move and explodes. Zeldris goes flying backwards and lands in the water. The intruder then approaches Gelda again and looks as if she's about to kill her.

Zeldris charges towards the intruder when she suddenly leaps away from Gelda, over Zeldris, to come face to face with another hooded figure in a purple cloak. Zeldris didn't even notice this other person appear. The purple figure removes her hood, it's Merlin! She has a look of concern on her face, different from her usual calm, stoic expression.

"It can't be." Merlin seems surprised, when suddenly the intruder gives a very angry growl and attacks.