We had returned to the tavern, deciding collectively that the best way to celebrate King's arrival and Holy Knight Guila's defeat was to get drunk and party. There was large platters of food Ban had quickly prepared, with the occasional helping hand from me and/or Ellie.

Diane, who was sitting in the large, grassy clearing we had decided to hold it in, was holding a large stick with a roasted fish on it. She extended it out to Meli, poking his cheek with the mouth of the disturbing-looking creature.

"C'mon captain~" she cooed, poking him once more. "Take a bite~!"

"That won't eben fit in my mouf," Meli replied, his words slightly muffled by the fish being shoved in his face. Diane frowned, poking him a few more times before begrudgingly returning the fish to her lips and taking a slow bite out of it.

"Are you really okay now, Diane?" King asked, his cheeks slightly flushed from the alcohol (and a little something else *wink wonk*) as he stared at the aforementioned giant in beweilderment. "You said you thought you were dying, and now your fine...."

"Oh... uh, y-yeah..." she said awkwardly, facing away from the fairy with a small frown. "I'm okay now."

"Yeah, right," Ban scoffed from next to me. He and I were sitting near the barrels of ale, refilling our pints as we pleased as we watched the other sins (as well as Ellie and Hawk, who were basically part of the group now) chat and laugh as they enjoyed the party. "She was totally pretending."

"Yeah, so she could suck face with Meli," I teased, my cheeks flushed and tone giggly from alcohol consumption. Ban and I made mocking kissing noises, then laughed at King's reaction.

"No way!" King shouted, his face turning bright red in anger and slight embrassment. "Diane isn't that kind of girl!"

"Ehehe..." Diane chuckled awkwardly, twiddling with the stick that the large fish was once on. King whirled around to face Diane.

"Diane!!!" He shouted, looking at her in disbelief. She turned further away from him, a small blush on her cheeks as she moved a pigtail in front of her face.

I chuckled at his behavior, glancing at Ban. He looked like he was deep in thought. I waited a moment, contemplating if this was right time to ask him. Nobody else was close enough to hear a normal conversation... I guess it's now or never, then.

"Hey Ban."

"Yeah?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"You just did."

"Can I ask you another question?" I groaned irritably, my eyebrow twitching in annoyance.

"You just did."

"My fuck, can I ask you two more questions?"

"Sure," he replied, smiling cheekily at me. I smiled a small smile back, then looked into the intoxicating liquid within my cup, swishing it around so that my coppery reflection became deformed.

"Who was that girl?"

"Whadoya mean?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

"The girl in the Capitol," I elaborated, looking at him. "I only saw her for a split second whenever I got a glimpse of her, but she's the one you and King chased after. The one you were muttering to before we left."

His eyes widened for a moment, before he looked away, glaring. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I thought you would say that..." I frowned, still looking at him. "Can I ask another question regarding it?"

He stayed silent. So naturally, I asked it. Cause that's what any sane person would do around an angry-looking immortal.

"Is her name Elaine?" His head shot toward me with wide eyes, baring his sharp teeth.

"Where did you what that name?" He demanded, before glaring in King's direction. "That damn fatass told you about her, didn't he?"

"No, I heard it from you."

"Hah?"

"You accidentally called that girl, Ellen, 'Elaine' when were in the Boar Hat," I explained, and he opened his mouth to speak. I interrupted him. "I would have dismissed it as a simple mistake- that you heard her name wrong, or something- if we had known her name before that point. But we didn't. She hadn't told us her name until that moment. I'm not stupid, Ban. I may have been the only one who picked up on it, which could've been by chance, but I'm not stupid. The only reason I brought it up is because it seemed to bother you."

He continued to glare, but now it was into his pint and not in the opposite direction of me. I sighed, frowning lightly as I placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Look, I know I'm not your favorite person by a long shot... but I'm worried about you. You seem really upset." I sighed, seeing that this conversation was getting nowhere. I guess it was a mistake to ask him after all.... "Alright, I'm sorry. This is a sensitive topic. I'll leave you alone now..."

"You sound so much like her..." he muttered, and I saw his gaze soften extremely. He stared into the cup looking... sad. Really sad. I felt bad for making his emotions resurface, but it was also somewhat reassuring that he didn't totally hate me now. I smiled, squeezing his shoulder comfortingly.

"Well, if you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm here." I said softly, hopping off the barrel and turning to leave. I took a few steps toward the bonfire, but before I could reach it, he spoke.

"Now I get to ask you a question," he said, facing me in his normal, slouching stance. His gaze and tone were more serious, though. I raised an eyebrow, but returned to his side all the same, taking a sip of my drink.

"Yeah, that's fair."

"Why'd you react like that when those kids mentioned your family?" He asked, staring at me with a stoic expression. My body visibly stiffened, and I glanced to the side. "It's not a great topic, I know that, but you aren't the kinda person who just freezes up like that."

"My family... they didn't die under good circumstances..." I sighed, my face contorting into one of pain as I remembered the feeling of their presences disappearing one by one. The feeling of every soul getting ripped apart, but not seeing it; it was excruciating. I choked back a quiet sob, flipping my hair over my head as I looked at Ban. "I didn't get to say goodbye, and when they said that... it... it brought back a lot of guilt and.... and sadness. Stuff that I thought I had buried a long, long time ago.

"They were killed after the war 3,000 years ago, right?" He asked, and I looked at him, surprised. He smirked. "I'm not stupid either, (y/n)."

I chuckled breathily, "Yeah, I deserve that... And, yeah. They did."

"In their realm, after they were banished," he added, and I nodded my head, confirming his statement. He raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you go with them? Wouldn't you have been cast out too?"

"Yeah, I would've," I spoke bitterly, frowning. "But I was one of the few who fought on the side of the kingdom from the very beginning. I didn't approve of one race ruling the entire kingdom, so I fought on the side of the humans, fairies, and etcetera. I was a good guy, so I wasn't forced to leave."

"Ah," he nodded, taking a chug of the alcohol inside his cup. Bernia ale, I believe we were drinking. He turned to me, grinning as he ruffled my hair. "I don't hate you nearly as much as I did before. You aren't half bad, shorty."

"Right back atcha, bigfoot," I laughed, taking a chug from my pint.

We continued laughing and talking for the rest of the 'party', getting drunk out of our minds. We made drunken jokes and sang ridiculous songs that nobody could understand the words to. I think I even rode around on King's Chastiefol's Guardian a few times, shouting things like 'IM A BEAR TAMER, BITCH!' and 'FEAR MEEEEE!' as it trudged around.

Later in the night, we had all calmed down. We were sitting around, under the night sky as a large bonfire burned in the center of a large circle of logs. King was laying on his pillow, hovering near to the fire next to Meli, who sat on a large log, still sipping his ale. I was laying comfortably on a small hill next to the area we were in, loving the comfort of the fire as I stared up into the starry night sky. Ban was still sitting on an ale barrel, and Ellie was chatting with Hawk next to the captain.

"Would you quiet down?" Diane asked sleepily, yawning as she snuggled further into the grassy ground she was laying on. "I'm tired now that I've eaten."

Ban and King had been bickering back and forth about something I didn't care enough about listen to. I zoned in and out of the conversation as I drifted in and out of sleep, a warm, fuzzy feeling covering my being as I lay in the grass.

"C'mon guys," Meli said to Ban and King, continuing to sip his ale. "If you keep fighting, you'll scare Elizabeth."

I chuckled as Ellie stuttered out a response, "L-Lord Meliodas! I am not frightened! I-I don't.... I mean, I'm not..! Ugh!" She groaned helplessly, leaning against Hawk in defeat.

"Shut it, you swines!" Hawk demanded nobody in particular.

"I've been quiet this entire time!" I added lazily, opening half-lidded eyes to look at the group. I noticed an eye-roll come from the pig, and I sat up, sticking my tongue out at him.

"Oh, I've forgotten!" King exclaimed, turning in the direction of Meli. He pointed skeptically at him and Ellie. "I've been meaning to ask, what's your relationship with her?"

"Lovers?" Meli questioned, reaching up behind the girl and massaging her breasts. I groaned, facepalming at his perverted tendencies.

"No!" Ellie exclaimed, looking extremely uncomfortable as her face turned bright red. He then grabbed her hand, repetitively pushing it inside his shirt and against his chest.

"We like touching each other?" He suggested again, and Ellie turned even redder.

"L-Lord Meliodas, please..." she muttered, turning away from the group, embarrassed.

"She's the third princess of the kingdom," I sighed, joining the group and sitting on a log. "She came here looking for the eight of us so she could help take down the corruption of the Holy Knights. Of course, it was originally seven, but..." I grinned, pointing at myself, "There was a special bonus."

"W-wait!" King exclaimed, pointing at Ellie with an open jaw. I grabbed Meli's abandoned pint, taking a sip of the liquid. "She's a princess?! Why didn't you say that earlier! I would've presented myself better!"

"'Presented yourself better'?" Ban snorted, facing King. "The hell does that mean?"

"Please, Lord King, that isn't necassary," smiled Ellie, facing the boy now that Meli had stopped sexually assaulting her. He growled, his face turning red in concentration.

"HO!" He shouted, his entire body changing to his original, fat self. He was also wearing a large orange onesie with several different patterns and a large, frilly bottom; his neck was decorated with necklaces and his hands with bracelets and rings.

Both Ban and I simultaneously spit out the alcohol we had in our mouths.

"Holy shit!" I gasped, staring at the sin, who seemed to be an entirely different person. I knew fairies could change form, but it was extremely unexpected for him to turn into that.

"Wow! His clothes changed!" Meli grinned, staring at King.

"That's not the only thing!" Ban exclaimed, staring open-mouthed at King. I laughed, both at the ridiculousness of the Grizzly Sin's outfit and at Ban's reaction.

"The reason I don't hold this form often," King explained, his voice deep and gruff, just how it used to be. "is because it takes a lot of concentration to maintain."

The fairy turned to Ellie, getting closer to her before bowing respectfully. It was rather difficult with his large stomach, but he made do. "I am the Grizzly Sin of Sloth, King. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Y-yours as well..." Ellie said sheepishly, glancing down at Meli, who had his face pressed up against her ass. My eyebrow twitched irritably, the urge to smack him upside the head was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. King drew his face closer to Ellie's, getting uncomfortably close to her. She muttered quietly; "S-so close..."

"Please, forgive the rudeness of my conduct when we were in the Capitol!" He exclaimed, getting slightly closer. Ellie squeaked.

"Y-you don't have to apologize," she said quietly, her face red.

"Geez, chill out, King..." I muttered, staring at the now large man in amusement, and slight discomfort. I would hate to be in Ellie's position right now.

"Yeah, chill out, King." Meli hummed, removing himself from Ellie's rear and pushing King away from her face. "Elizabeth doesn't care about that kinda stuff, she isn't like that. She's really kind and patient."

"Yes," Ellie smiled, "Please, feel free to relax around me."

"But-" he muttered, and I cut him off.

"King," I sighed, "if she were that kinda princess don't you think the majority of us would be more respectful and formal around her? Well, kinda-sorta."

"You have a point," he muttered after a moment, turning toward the princess, who nodded gently. "Very well, if that is what you wish."

With a large poof of smoke, he turned back into the small boy he was before. He sighed, flopping backwards into his pillow. "Wow, it's been awhile since I've done that... my shoulders are stiff."

"Huh, his clothes changed back," Meli observed, taking a casual sip out of a new ale cup he had grabbed.

"Captain, do your eyeholes not work?!?!" Ban exclaimed, pointing at King. I snorted, trying, and failing, to contain my laughter. It seemed, however, that it was a most inopportune time to laugh. Ban had muttered something I wasn't able to hear over my sputters and giggles that resulted in a glare-war between him and King. I was about to ask what was wrong, but Meli stepped in before I could, shoving fish that had just come off of the fire against their lips. After a few moments, both King and Ban stumbled backward, clutching their faces.

"HOOTTTTTT!"

"OW!! THAT HURT!!!"

I couldn't really differentiate the cries, as they were shouted at the same time. Meli still remained completely calm, keeping a straight face as he said, "Fish's ready."

"The most powerful of the deadly sin's is a total pervert who enjoys the stupidest things," I muttered, rolling my eyes at the captain. He grinned cheekily.

"Hey, I wouldn't say I'm the most powerful," he smiled, "We all have our advantages when it comes to certain circumstances of battle."

"Speaking of power," Ellie hummed, turning to King, who had relinquished his hold on his mouth and was now gripping his pillow as he spun in small, slow circles. "Lord King, you must be extremely powerful. You defeated someone four people couldn't take on by yourself with relative ease."

"Yeah, but..." he turned toward us, "any one of them could have handled her quickly if they were as powerful as they used to be. It is true that she was a formidable opponent, but none of you should have struggled."

"What're you talking about?" Hawk snorted from beside Ellie.

"Where are your sacred treasures?" King questioned, narrowing his eyes at us.

"I lost mine," Diane answered, hiding behind a single pigtail.

"I sold mine," Meli said nonchalantly into his cup.

"Mine was stolen," Ban laughed, finishing another ale pint.

"I still have mine, I just left it inside," I shrugged.

King transferred into his fatter form, glaring at us. He quickly changed back into his small self, the disgusted look still gracing his features.

"You're telling me," he started, fuming. "That your sacred treasures, bestowed upon us by the King of Liones himself, are not with you?"

"I needed seed money for the tavern," Meli shrugged as King glared at him.

"I was captured, dude," Ban laughed as the boy's gaze was directed at him.

"I was attacked by a hungry pig who practically drowned me in slobber," I shrugged, throwing a glare in Hawk's direction as he turned to me. "It was soaked, so I left it in the tavern. I didn't think we would be fighting a Knight in the Capitol- much less one that powerful."

Our reactions, and his reaction to us, was pretty much the same throughout the group. When it came to Diane, however, she was covering her face with both of her pigtails, blushing furiously, looking as though she were on the brink of tears.

"A-am I bad girl?" She asked cutely, seeming overly depressed about it. King's face heated up intensely. God, he is so hopelessly in love with her...

"W-well if it was misplaced of course it wasn't your fault!" He stuttered, waving his hands frantically. She frowned deeply, looking away. King waved his hands even faster. "Really! I-it's okay, Diane!"

"I don't get it," Hawk intervened, huffing as his hooves clopped quietly against the grass. "They're not on my level, of course, but they're all pretty good without a weapon."

"Mister Pig," King huffed, facing Hawk, who stared quizzically at him. The Sin sighed, approaching a small pond near our small campsite. He grabbed a pint and scooped up some water, guesturing to it. "If you use a weapon, in the scale of your magical power, you can pull out the amount of magical energy that can be contained within a mug or a pint. But," he dunked his hand into the water, then drew it out. "when using your hands, you only get this much. Then, of course," He stood, directing his open palm towards the water. A large quantity emerged, forming a large, pulsating orb that lingered just above the pond. "if you use your sacred treasure, you can pull out a house's worth. In other words, an incomparable amount to what you could before."

Hawk nodded in understanding as King released the water, letting it splash back into its source. The pig walked calmly over to Meli, before grabbing his shoulder within his hooves and shaking him vigorously, shouting. "You idiot! How could you get rid of something so freaking valuable?!"

King sighed, guesturing for Hawk to release our captain. The pig begrudgingly did so. "There's no point in wasting our energy complaining about the loss of their treasures. However, I do suggest that we immediatly begin looking for them."

"While we look for the other Sins!" I added, and King nodded.

"While we look for our remaining comrades," he smiled, looking at me. I smiled back.

"Welp," I grinned, "Looks like we know what we're going to do next!"