IV: The Sin In The Sleeping Forest
Nixie P.O.V

"Lord Gilthunder! Queen Nixilia! Please, you must not see this!"

The guards tried pushing us back from seeing the bloody murder of Grand Master Zaratras.

"Who did this?! Who killed my father?!"

He demanded and I hugged him as he sobbed into my chest.

At the time, Gilthunder was only twelve years old, and I was 16, but I was crowned Queen Nixilia when my mother was poisoned and died within hours.

I still remember the things she told me. . .

"N-Nixilia? Where are you?" The poison gave her temporary blindness before her demise.

"I'm right here, mother," I gripped her hand tight.

"I know you do not want to be wed to a stranger when you get older. . .because you're in love," She smiled, even if she couldn't see me.

"M-Mother, what are you-?"

"I used to see it in your eyes, Nixie.
He's a strange one at that, a-and quite older then you. . .but you love him."

Tears formed in my eyes because she was the only one who knew about us, the only one who paid any attention to me.

"As their secret comrade, Nixie, something will happen in the near future, but it will not be their fault. Stay by Meliodas' side. . ."

"Mother? Mother?! MAMA!"

My dark blue eyes snapped open at the horrible memory of the past and my chest was heaving up and down.

It's just a dream, Nixie.

It's just a dream.

Stretching my arms, I threw on my regular blue dress and hat and made my way downstairs.

"Morning everybo-"

No one is here.

Walking out of the tavern, I found that we were in front of the Forest of White Dreams.

Don't tell me he took Eli in there!

She's going to be a major target!

Jumping off, I landed on the ground swiftly before running inside of the Forest of White Dreams and called out for Eli, Hawk and Meliodas.

"Eli! Meliodas! Hawk-! Eh?!"

I screeched, coming upon a hundred look alikes of Eli!

"I got it! One last thing, jump as high as you can-ow. That hurt, Nixie," Meliodas exclaimed, rubbing the back of his head. I smacked him over the head.

"I can't!" One Eli cried above the rest, sitting down and yanking her skirt over her butt.

"I'm sorry! I can't do that!"

Meliodas pulled out his sword, making them poof in a puff of smoke before tiny little creatures emerged from the smoke and hopped away.

"They're just Hide and Seeks. Prankster Imps," I pointed out as they hopped away.

"Let's go after 'em! Oh, here. You might need these," Meliodas handed something to Eli as we ran after the Imps.

"You stole my underwear?!"

PERVERT!

"Keep a sharp eye on them, guys! There might be something they're headed for!" Meliodas stated as we picked up our pace to keep up.

"Look! It's a girl!"

Eli pointed out and through the fog, I could see a sleeping girl with brown hair.

"You don't think they plan to attack her, do ya'?" Hawk asked.

"A little girl like that?"

"Yeah, she's just a. . .a little. . ."

"Maybe not," Eli breathed out.

Turns out that this little girl isn't so little after all. She's a giant!

Wait. . .

Those pigtails. . .

It's Diane!

"Lady Diane! We accidentally let Holy Knights trespass the forest!" One of the Imps cried out.

It is Diane!

Her purple eyes snapped open and she rose above the ground, glaring daggers at us!

"Some Holy Knights got in, huh?" She repeated.

"Whoa! She's huge!" Hawk squeaked.

"Wait, no. We're not Holy Knights, we came here to-" With one swift movement, Meliodas disappeared and Diane held him in the palm of her hand.

"You're in trouble, Holy Knight," She growled at him.

"Hold on! You're not gonna eat him, are you?!" Hawk panicked and I rolled my eyes.

"You let go of Sir Meliodas!" Eli demanded.

"Huh? Sir Meliodas?" She looked at him closer.

"Yo Diane, what's it been, like, ten years?" He grinned, attempting to make normal conversation with her.

"CAPTAIN! Captain, Captain, Captain, Captain, Captain, Captain! I've missed you so much! Oh you've thought of everything, haven't you? You remembered how much I love whole roasted pig!" Diane giggled.

"Hey, wait! Don't eat me lady!"

Too late for that.

Diane put Hawk over a fire and smiled happily with a hand on her cheek.

"How can I eat you without cooking you first?"

"You really haven't changed at all, Diane," I finally spoke up and she looked at me and her eyes widened.

"Nixie! Oh wow! You're so much more beautiful then I remember! Love the new hair by the way. Ban is one lucky guy!" She grinned and my smile turned into a frown.

"Oh, wait, now I remember. Sorry for bringing that up, Nixie," She immediately apologized.

"It's alright," I accepted her apology.

As Eli introduced herself to Diane and Diane beat up on Meliodas, as always, I started to think.

Who did they want me to marry?

As Eli said, I'd be wed to a Holy Knight, but which one?

Griomore? No, he's in love with Princess Veronica, and devoted to her completely.

"You'll marry me when we grow up, right?"

"Technically, when you grow up. But yeah, why not?"

No. . .

Lightning flashed across the sky and I immediately knew who'd I'd marry if I went back. But it's also the same person who's attacking us.

Lightning struck us and my eyes widened at my bindings. My ankles and wrists were all binded by lightning!

"We meet at last, you deadly sins."

It can't be. . .

"I've come to collect my wife."

With one look, my eyes fixed on him as he came towards me and I muttered,

"Gilthunder?"