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

Chapter Six: Attack on Liones

.
.
.

Everyone paused. Gowther then spoke further. "Her voice gets higher in pitch and her heart rate increases, which doesn't happen when she speaks with the rest of us." He said. King and Ban tried to hush the goat sin while nervously looking at Diane. Then they realized she was fast asleep. "Ah thank god..." King said in relief. Gowther was confused by this. He had noticed Diane's affections for the captain but they weren't as extreme as Elizabeth's.

Ban suddenly got curious. "Hey, Gowther if you're so smart think ya can figure out those numbers and stuff on Acantha's back." He asked drunkenly. Gowther tilted his head and looked at the nymph who was now crouched in the grass looking at a ladybug which she picked from a blade of grass. "On her back?" He asked and casually walked over, moving her hair without any sense of how it made the girl feel. "A356... Hm. I don't know what it means. Though I do know whoever put it on her using a hot brand." He stated, adjusting his glasses. Acantha in a fit of discomfort went to where Diane was and sat by her. As the night rolled over every one went to bed.

Some time passed and Hawk's Mom was on the move. Diane walked by the pig's side and talked with her. Meanwhile inside the sins and Acantha were waiting for their next stop to arrive. Meliodas was cleaning cups, Ban was drinking from cups, King layed on his pillow and Acantha partook in one of her many habits of messing with her own hair. Gowther walked in to join them and went to do the greeting he learned, and with Acantha being the closest he aimed for her. Though that was stopped short when Meliodas threw a kitchen knife, it goes between the two and hitting a wall. The blonde casually went back to cleaning cups. Ban looked at Gowther. "What the hell were you trying to do??" He asked. Gowther tilted his head. "I was simply executing a greeting the captain had taught me." He said when Hawk ran over. "Yeah for pigs!" He yelled. Ban rolled his eyes. "So what's the plan now? We look for the other sins?" He asked.

Meliodas shook his head. "Well not exactly. First I wanna get my sword back. So we're heading to the capital." He said, catching everyone off guard. "Who's coming with me?" The short blonde asked. Everyone frowned. "No way in hell," Ban said. King nodded in agreement. "That's risky." He added boredly. Meliodas pouted and hid under Elizabeth's skirt, getting yelled at by Meliodas of course. As Meliodas fixed the broken window Diane made, he started to explain why he needed the sword back. Hawk started to act weird though. "I get why they're after the sword. But I don't get why they're after you Elizabeth." He said. The girl in question went to his side. "Hawk are you okay???" She asked worriedly.

Suddenly a mage appeared, catching everyone by surprise. "It's simple. She's the last key to breaking the seal of course." She said, teleporting her, Elizabeth, and Hawk away. Meliodas tried to get to them but failed, yelling out angrily and running outside. "We're going straight for the capitol to save Elizabeth!" Meliodas yelled. "How?? It's more than 40 miles from here!" King said. Meliodas looked at Diane and she seemed to get the message. "Hold on now I'm going too. I have my reasons." He said with a grin. Gowther joined as well. "I wish to see you both in combat." He said. Diane picked them up. "Hold on my aim might be off okay?" She asked and threw the three boys across the land.

Acantha had followed outside as Hawk's Mom began to rise from the ground and head over as well. Diane looked at Acantha and smiled. "It'll be okay we can do this!" She grinned, bringing Acantha comfort and a bit of confidence. Diane put Acantha on her shoulder as King floated up. And so they all walked. Diane seemed a little out of it though. After a bit of walking, Diane spoke up. "Hey, king... Do you... Think if it were me who got kidnapped... The captain would have looked that upset?" She asked. King paused. "What? Of course! You're his comrade." He said, causing Diane to giggle. "Yeah, I know... I just wish he looked at me the same way he looked at Elizabeth." She stated.

Acantha wasn't really sure about what it was like to have feelings for someone but wanted to help make Diane feel better. "Di...ane...." She muttered, catching her by surprise. "If... Y-ou... Were kidnapped... I'd... Do me... Best to get... You... Back..." She said. That was the most she's ever said to Diane. It was slow and soft, with not much emphasis put on certain words but it warmed the girl's heart. Diane grabbed Acantha and rubbed her cheek against the smaller girl. "Awww! I know you're trying to make me feel better but thank you!!!" She said with a giggle. "You're adorable I could eat you up!" She exclaimed. King thought for a moment. "Eat you up huh... That reminds me! I have an idea!" He said and whistled.

A dark portal opened up and out came a... Dog? Diane questioned it. "Black Hound. They're a special animal that lives between the fairy world and the human world. This is an old friend Oslo. He's got a strange power to make portals of his mouth." King said. Diane smiled. "That would have been a lot more useful ya know. Not like the captain would be mad about it." She said. King scratches the back of his neck. "Not when Oslo's favorite food is pork." He said. "Anyways... Oslo do your thing!" He said.

The small dog-like creature started to grow in size before forcing Diane through the portal though she struggled due to size. Diane and Acantha were suddenly underground of Liones. "We can't possibly be in Liones... It's so dark... Acantha can you use that fire of yours to make some light?" She asked her friend and put her down. Acantha nodded and held her hands out before producing fire from them, letting it spread to other parts of her though attempting to avoid burning her clothes. "You're amazing! Now... Where are we...?" Diane asked. After only a moment, a huge hole formed above them, and down came the holy knights from Vaizel. "Woah look at these holy knights!" Diane said in awe. Their supposed leader, a man in red armor approached the two. "Serpent Sin. What reason do you have for being here?" He then looked at Acantha. "Hm... Fairy-like appearance yet no fairy magic or fairy presence... Fire... You must be the one..." He said with a dark tone of voice.

Gilthunder, a man with silver and blue armor with pink hair and blue eyes, spoke up. "I don't think you know what predicament you're both in." He said threateningly. Jericho interrupted. "I'll do it! Save your strength." She said and ran at Diane with her sword. Diane managed to get Gideon in time and destroyed the area, sending them flying back while using her other hand to block and debris from hitting Acantha. "Be careful. This is the power of a sin with their sacred treasure." Dreyfus said as Diane held onto the nymph, climbing out. Gilthunder sighed. "I will handle this." He said rather boredly and used his lightning execution on both the girls. Diane screamed in pain while Acantha could barely even force a scream. It had felt like her body was being fried from the inside. However, forced himself to use rising tornado while Helbram used ice crystals.

This combined attack sent the girls flying into a field where the knights met them again. Acantha forced herself up and looked at Diane, a sudden feeling bubbling deep within her. It made her entire body heat up but it just wouldn't burst yet. Diane got to her feet. She yelled angrily at them. "Return Elizabeth! Return my friend!!" She screamed out and used her power to create a large spike-like rock out of the ground, aiming at Helbram. Diane attempted to get at Dreyfus but she ended up getting a large hole cut right into her chest. The giant fell back and Acantha gasped. Then... The feeling inside was something she never thought she would experience... Rage. Flames burst from her hands and flowed up her arms. "Damn you!! Don't you ever hurt my friend!!!" She screamed out and formed a giant fireball, raising it and using all her strength to shoot it at Dreyfus. The grandmaster was definitely surprised. "What a fool..." He said and deflected the attack, though right as the fireball got sent away, Acantha was right in front of his face and kicked him in the side of the neck.

Diane groaned and got up. "Don't you ever underestimate the giants!" She yelled and went to smash Dreyfus but got blasted in the thigh and sent flying into the village. Acantha yelled angrily and caged all of the knights in fireballs before sending them down. One mistake Acantha made was not watching for Helbram. The small nymph was sent flying right in the same direction Diane was. The nymph landed on the side of a building, crumbling it and coughing violently. It was like all the air in her lungs was knocked out of her. She squinted and looked to see Diane walking away, limping and just taking the rocks thrown at her. Acantha ran to her side and created a firewall between her and the humans so they wouldn't torment her.

As Diane walked, buildings would randomly collapse. Acantha had to dodge whatever rubble fell. She had never felt more alive than she did in those moments. Rage flowed throughout her body, adrenaline keeping her on her feet and a hatred for the knights who attacked her being what fueled her. As the two walked, Acantha heard the voice of a young boy behind them. "A giant...?" He said right as the top of a building started to collapse. Acantha tried to rush to the boy to get him away but Diane beat her to it, using her body to shield the boy and the nymph.

Acantha was expecting to feel pain but was surprised to see Diane. Though she almost looked lifeless. "Diane! You're gonna be okay! Like you told me! We can do this!" She yelled out, trying to keep Diane in her senses. She heard the holy knights in front of them, Jericho asking to be the one to kill Diane. Acantha saw Howzer coming upon them and got defensive, standing in front of Diane with bright red flames flowing from her aching palms. However, presented he was no threat. "Sir. You told me to use my power when I believed it was right. Well, I believe the time is right!" He yelled.
.
.
.
Word Count: 1840