The Nymph's Redemption: Acantha's Journey (7ds fanfiction)

Chapter Four: New Ally

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Diane looked down at her new nymph friend. 

"I'm gonna need you to keep an eye on my back. If anyone gets too close or tries to attack my head, do your best to deflect or attack back." She encouraged. 

Acantha held onto Diane's clothing and nodded, using the collar of her bodysuit as stability. Diane rushed off to find her crew and to help the princess. The ginger nymph kept a watchful eye on the surroundings.

When Diane got to where the chaos ensued, she saw an unfamiliar person attacking Meliodas, which enraged her. 

"Hang on Artemis." She said with a dark tone. 

Acantha flinched from this way of talking as the girl grabbed her hammer and swung at the knight, known as Helbram. The green-haired man backed away as the giant girl slowly approached the unconscious Meliodas, gently lifting him. 

"Are you the one who did this to the captain....?" She asked the stranger. 

"I hate to bother such a reunion, but you might want to move aside." The armor-clad Helbram stated.

"Answer the question!! Did you do this?!" She growled, swinging her sacred Gideon. 

Diane passed Meliodas to Acantha which made her nervous with the physical contact, but she awkwardly held onto the blonde man by his arm. Diane screamed out in anger and slammed her war hammer into the ground. "Mother Earth Catastrophe!" She yelled and suddenly a huge ball of the earth beneath the giant arose. Diane's hair now covered her angry face. Acantha was holding on for dear life as the mound of earth slammed into the ground.

Acantha sighed in relief when calm finally came. She noticed a pair of eyes on her and saw their captain, also known as "Meliodas". He was looking at her with a weak smile. 

"Yo! Artemis was it? Thanks for makin' sure I didn't fall." He said and only received a silent nod. Diane took Meliodas off her shoulder and joined up with her comrades below. 

"Hey, guys!" She said with a smile and showed the beat-up captain. The giant rubbed her cheek against him before letting him down. Elizabeth who was now fully grown to her normal size went to his side, but Ban beat her to him and punch him right in the stomach, sending him flying into a rock. Acantha stayed hidden against Diane, out of the shyness. 

They all banded together and headed back to the tavern. When they did, Diane sat outside with her legs crossed as usual before looking around. 

"Aye. Where's that short one Diane dragged around during the attack?" He asked. 

Diane giggled and took Acantha off her shoulder and set her down on one of her knees. Ban looked at Acantha and just nodded, went inside, and started to cook. Elizabeth approached the two girls. 

"Excuse me, lady Artemis. I noticed you look a tad dirty, and your clothes are nearly torn to shreds. If you come with me, I'll help you." She offered with a soft and kind smile.

Acantha, unsure what to do, felt a nudge by Diane. "Go on, you can trust everyone here, don't worry." She said with a grin. 

Acantha furrowed her brows and nodded, walking with Elizabeth inside where she was brought to Elizabeth's room and drawn a hot bath. Acantha sat in the warm water and felt strange. Physically she was both relaxed yet still in pain due to the injuries she sustained during the time outside; yet emotionally, she felt safe but uncertain. The bathroom was so small. It felt suffocating but Elizabeth's kind words were quite helpful.

When she was finished with her bath, the once dirt and grime-covered girl looked fresh and clean; her body only covered by wounds, and her skin littered with freckles from head to toe. Elizabeth gently wrap up her hands and patch up whatever scrapes and cuts she had collected and gave her some clothes.