Y/N P.O.V

When the two demons had finally joined once again, the roof and walls around us caved, allowing the outside world to be seen.

I stood up and walked next to Zeldris. He seemed just as shocked as the rest of us. Meanwhile, Escanor had immediately engaged in battle once again with the demon.

Suddenly, a huge burst of energy was headed our way. Before any of us realized it, Kings Chastifoul had quadrupled in size and had clashed with the demons shield.

My eyes widened. "Since when did Kings Chastifoul get that big?" Sweat dripped down my forehead. "The Seven Deadly sins....I can't judge their distance, but multiple immense powers are heading in this direction from the North..." Zeldris spoke from beside me.

The two of us stood on a small circular rock, a convenient piece of rubble that wasn't blown away by the Original Demons attacks. "That sounds about right," I laughed slightly.

Chastifoul suddenly shifted into Sunflower and began to open. "Crap!" I exclaimed in worry. "We've gotta move!" I shouted, grabbing Zel's arm and flying high into the air.

"Is this nessicary?" Zeldris deadpanned when I moved to hold him bridal style. "Sorry, you were just so short I mistook you for a baby," I retorted.

"Is know the time for jokes?" He asked. "There's always time for a good laugh!" I fought back playfully. Zeldris sighed and pushed himself off of me gently and unleashed his wings.

"Stay back. I don't want you to get involved in this," Zeldris muttered, facing the Sunflower. I puffed out my cheeks in disapproval.

"Chandler! Cusack! I'll handle this! You focus on Escanor and Merlin!" Zeldris had already focused on something else. I sighed.

"Like heck I'm doing that-" I muttered. "Yo! Escanor! Merlin!" I shouted, flying to their side. "Allow me to help you. Zel's being difficult right now," I laughed playfully.

"Glad you're doing well. You didn't seem to be doing so well when you were unconscious," Merlin mentioned, dodging a lazer.

"I was? I feel fine now; better than earlier," I mentioned. Our conversation stopped when I sensed a powerful magic source headed our way. My eyes widened as I watched the Commandments appear and enter Meliodas's cocoon.

Zeldris landed on the ground, a smirk on his face. It's almost time...I'll save you....Y/N...

I flew to Zel and shook his shoulders. "Zeldris, is there any way we can remove the Commandments from Meliodas?" I asked frantically.

He shook his head. "I can't do that. Even if I knew a way," Zeldris replied. "Why not?!" I cried.

"Meliodas has promised to remove your curse once he becomes the Demon King," Zeldris stated. "Zel-" I thought about what to say. "Even if it is to save me, saving Meliodas comes first..." I muttered, looking down at the ground.

His eyes widened. He turned the tables and shook my shoulders. "Are you out of your mind?!" Zeldris cried. "Saving YOU is my ONLY priority!" Zeldris continued to shout. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

"I'm not! I just want Elizabeth and Meliodas to be happy! I want you to be happy!" I cried. Zeldris shook his head and sighed. "What about you? Don't you want to be happy?" Zeldris turned the tables. "If you want me to be happy, then stay with me. I'm doing all of this to save you. So we can be happy," Zeldris explained.

I bit my lip, and tried to think if the best option. I want Zeldris to be happy, but Meliodas needs to become the Demon King for that. I want Elizabeth and Meliodas to be happy; but that would require us to save Meliodas from becoming the Demon King.

"Zel....." I took his hands in mine and smiled at him. "I understand where you're coming from, but-" I sighed. "We have to think of what's best for Liones as well.....and right now....that option is to save Meliodas," I explained.

"Y/N.....please listen to me..."

I looked up at Zeldris with sad eyes. His eyes had gone back to his original green, his shining emerald eyes.

"I want to save you no matter the cost," Zeldris proclaimed. My eyes widened in shock. Time felt still as he spoke.

It's been 3000 years that I've known him.....but I've never seen him be so open

"Even if you don't agree, I could never imagine not having you in my life," Zeldris finished speaking with a small blush on his cheeks.

Suddenly, burst of power came from behind me and Zel.

"That's the forbidden spell....Chrono Coffin-!" Zeldris gasped. "Are you trying to suspend the cocoon in time?!" Zeldris shouted in anger. "I WON'T LET HER!" Zeldris said nothing else before running into battle.

"Zel! No!" I tried to convince him, but it didn't do anything. I ran after him. I flew in front of Zeldris and blocked his attack on Merlin with my shadow sword. King's Chastifoul went to back up Escanor whom blocked the Original Demon.

"What are you doing?!" Zeldris cried out, his eyes flashing green, showing the hurt in his eyes. "Why are you throwing your life away?!" He cried out again.

It hurt me to see Zeldris in so much pain.....especially because of me.

"Zel....there has to be another way to save me. We'll find it. Together," I smiled.

"Y/N! King! Escanor! Please....just give me twelve minutes-!" Merlin cried out.

"I'm sorry!" Suddenly, Zeldris lunged at me with his sword. "Just let me save you!" He yelled again.

I shook my head. "Zel! I can't let you go down this path, okay?! We'll find a way save me! That way.....we can stay together....and be happy," I finished with a smile and a faint blush.

Zeldris' breath hitched as he looked towards the ground.

"Death Drive!"

I heard a spell being cast towards Escanor and gasped. "Escanor!" I turned around and placed my hands in front of me.

"Dark Sphere!" I cast a small sphere of magic around Escanor, protecting him from any harsh wounds, but it wouldn't last long.

When I turned to face Zeldris again, he was already flying towards Merlin again. I immediately intervened and clashed swords with him again.

"Please! Listen to me Zel!"

Suddenly, I heard footsteps coming towards Merlin from behind me. I already knew that it was the Original Demon and cried out, my ming going a million miles a minute to try and find a solution.

All of a sudden, a bright flash of light got in the way.

"I can not be certain how long this vodt can hold without a vessel! However, I can garuntee something as small as stalling him," a new voice joined the throng.

I glanced back in Merlin's direction to be completely shocked. "Ludociel..!" I muttered. I could barely even form a sentence.

I shook my head to try and steady my mind. There was a lot going on...and I couldn't let myself get distracted!

All of a sudden, a bright light blinded all of us.

"Oh, fake night, vanish before my Grace!"

Chandler's Eternal Night was blown away. When I looked up, I smiled brightly. There were all my friends, Gowther, Diane, Elizabeth, King, Hawk, and even Mael.

Zeldris and I's 'battle' was put to a pause.

"Estarossa, I'm glad your back. Wait-" Zeldris stopped suddenly. "Mael!" My eyes widened. "Mael! You're back to your senses!" I cried.

"Mael! You were alive!" Ludociel was almost moved to tears. "Dear brother...." Mael muttered, gathering the power of sunshine in his hands.

"If you have been awakened, just return to the heavens," Zeldris spat at Mael. "I am partly responsible for bringing about the Holy War. However, I did not come here with the intention to settle things through combat," Mael began to explain.

"If you allow us to stop Meliodas from becoming the Demon King and order the Demon Army to retreat, I shall not harm you," Mael tried his hand at convincing Zeldris.

The Original Demon was angry at Mael's comment and ran to attack him, but Mael threw his  gathered magical power and used that to hold him back.

"Is that a threat?" Zeldris laughed. "You probably haven't forgotten that any kind of attack magic will not wotk on me," He added.

"Oh I haven't," Mael smirked.

"Then......CONSIDER THIS MY RESPONSE!" Zeldris let out a large shout as he launched a crescent of darkness at Ludociel, but he used his light to dispell it.

Sorrowfully, I flew down next to the Seven Deadly Sins as they surronded Merlin to protect her. Elizabeth smiled, knowing that I intended to help.

"Be warned, our resolve will not falter!" Elizabeth proclaimed.

Zeldris growled, his Demon Markings taking control. "YOU BASTARDS!!" Zeldris flew forward once again. However, before Zel could get close, Mael grabbed his arm and spun him around, throwing him off to the side and into the rubble, creating a huge pile of dust.

When the dust cleared, Zeldris stood tall in a small crater with a smirk. He knew what he was doing and used Dark Nebula.

Everyone tried hard to grab onto something to keep them from flying away. "MAEL!" Ludociel cried out. When Mael got close, Zeldris thrust his sword forward to stab the archangel.

His expression flipped around immediately from a smirk to shock when he saw his sword melt to its hilt.

"If I can hold you off for five minutes than I win. If you beat me in five minutes, than you win," that was all Mael needed to say and they engaged in a fist fight. They moved so fast that it was hard to register just what they were doing.

My eyes widened, my heart stopping for a brief second when I witnessed Zeldris get pushed back by Mael's sunshine; coughing up blood.

"Zeldris!" I cried out in shock. I tried to run to him, but Elizabeth had grabbed my wrist. "Y/N...." Elizabeth's voice brought me back to my senses.

As much as I wanted to run to him and protect him, I needed to save Meliodas and leave the fight to Mael. No matter how much it pained me to see Zeldris in pain.

Mael tried to reason with him; the two once being brothers, even if it was fake, but Zeldris' resolve didn't falter.

Two minutes

Zeldris's calm nature had faltered and his attacks became frantic. Zeldris had received many wounds and blood dripped from his mouth.

"You seem to be a bit concerned. You're usually so calm and collected," 'so Mael had noticed it too'

"Are you willing to turn Meliodas into the Demon King just to win the Holy War? You're willing to let your only brother live out his life in such an existence?" Mael showed genuine conern for Zeldris as they fought.

"SAY WHAT YOU WANT!" Zeldris sprung back into action almost immediately.

"THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT MELIODAS WANTS AND WHAT I WANT TOO!"

"That's why......

YOU SHOULD GET OUT OF MY WAY!"

Seeing how desperate Zeldris was, distracted Mael for a split second, allowing his defense to falter. Zeldris inflicted a large wound on Mael's torso.

One more minute!

Zeldris let out a cry of frustration and used whatever abilities he could. Spears of darkness rained upon us.

"Protect Merlin!" Ludociel gave the order and all of us followed to the best of our ability.

Diane used her sacred treasure and spun it around quickly atop her as her wave of protection. When Zeldris came around to attack her, King casted a protective shield around all of us.

I could see Zel's expression waver. He let out a loud cry of pain. His expression showed desperation. He threw attacks at the shield relentlessly.

"Zeldris...." Elizabeth muttered. "Woah! He's totally desperate now!" Hawk cried out.

"Zeldris!" I cried. I let my tears fall freely. I ran to the side of the shield and began pounding on it. "King!" I turned to him in tears. "Please! Let me out!"

"Y/N- I can't do that-!" King stuttered.

"I don't understand....what is it that drives you so!!" Mael flew behind Zeldris.

"Zel! Look out!" I shouted, but it was too late and Mael had made comtact with Zeldris. He hunched over in pain before he fell to the ground. He tried his hardest to push himself off the ground.

Then....

The clock struck a final time...

And all time stopped around the cocoon....

Everyone seemed relieved, and a small part of me was, but nothing could replace my grand sense of worry for the demon.

In an instant, Zeldris fell to the ground unconscious and the barrier fell.

Everyone stood around, watching his limp body with sad eyes.

"It was short, but felt like forever," King sighed. Hawk suddenly jumped up and down. "Yay! The Holy War is finished!!" Hawk cheered.

Everything around me was tuned out.

Slowly, I took small steps towards Zeldris.

All I could hear was the muffled shouts and cries of joy from my comrades.

I fell to my knees beside him, tears streaming down my face.

"You idiot," I blinked, my tears falling onto his bare chest. Everyone around me suddenly froze at the sound of my voice. They turned to face me with confused faces.

They had saved Meliodas....so why was I crying? Especially over the enemy? That was what I would guess their all thinking.

"You were all saying that he looked really desperate in those couple m-minutes," my voice shook with every word.

"It's because he was," my lip trembled as more tears fell. "Everything he's done up until know.....was to save me and Gelda-!"

"He was fighting so desperately for me! Meliodas promised him he would remove my curse as soon as he became Demon King! He promised he would free Gelda too! After learning about my curse entering its final stage, he got scared. Zeldris fought so desperately to try to save my life!"

I allowed myself to cry. I cradled his limp body in my arms tightly. He wasn't dead- but it hurt seeing all that he struggled...

.....just for a pitiful, tainted goddess.....

...like me...

"Wait-! The middle of the cocoon is empty!" Hawk cried out. I immediately looked up to find a strange, muscular figure.

"Meliodas? Is that you?" Elizabeth called out.

Suddenly, Zeldris opened his eyes and began to laugh. "It's your turn to fulgill your promise now...Demon King," that was all he said before allowing his body to fall limp once more.

My eyes widened. I quickly wiped my tears and summoned my courage. 

The figure stepped into the light, allowing its features to be seen. He was very muscular and had long blonde hair.

I grimaced in disgust at the look. I made a mental note to tell Meliodas later that, the new look was not looking that good.

"I put you through a lot of trouble, you and the Seven Deadly Sins," Meliodas's voice had certainly changed a good couple octaves lower.

"Meliodas? Is it you?" Elizabeth called out once again. After a couple seconds, Elizabeth had her answer.

"You're not Meliodas," 

"Tell me who you are,"

.......

Second update of the dayy!!! (Well- does it count as the same day if it's 12:09 am as I'm writing this😅😅)

This chapter was really fun to write!!

Something I forgot to mention in the previous chapter is that I'm on Fall Break for two weeks!!

Y'all will be getting quite a bit of updates!!! Yayy!!!