Turning Back The Clock

Turning Back The Clock: Chapter 16

This chapter was the entire core idea that this story originally popped into my mind as before I built it up into what you've read so far. (3

The maid lady- Sarah- told the group all about the blond's childhood. About him being the third prince of the demon realm. Something that was a heavy blow to them all.

The only reason they could even cope with it and not feel betrayed about their captain never telling them- or even wonder if he were their captian at all and not just tricking them- was because they had seen the young boy himself.

It was clear he wasn't like the others. He was kind, merciful, caring. Likely quite the misfit among those around him; and he also had such a fascination with humans and other races that was fueled by admiration. He wasn't an evil demon like those the sins had faced, he was a black sheep. And although he had such high regards for all of the demons surrounding him in the castle like clearly stated by the boy, perhaps that faded when he was older, and that was why he left. According to the maid, why he was even seen as a traitor to everyone.

"The young master was gone for a long time, leaving at age fifteen up until only a few months ago. He was gone for three thousand years, our whole race being sealed because of him! Yet... he is but a boy now."

She seemed puzzled by it, something Ban decided to jump on.

"So you don't know why he's so young? Or why he came back?"

She shook her head, a mystified expression in her violet eyes.

"I don't. I thought if he were ever foolish enough to return, or finally weak enough to be caught, it would be followed by an execution for his crimes. Yet now the commandments expect us to see him as we did back then, and they've forbidden us from mentioning anything about his betrayal. They treat him with the highest regards, and to be honest with you all.. I have no idea why."

This time Elizabeth spoke, a focused, furrowed, frown on her face.

"W-Well.. y-you said he was the third prince, d-didn't you? Did something h-happen to the other two pr-princes that have made him the only heir? I-Is that perhaps why they've done this to him i-instead of execution?"

The sins all looked at her, their hearts leaping in hope that she was onto something. If he were the only prince left, surely that was why he was seen as so important! And maybe it meant getting him back would have more benefits than just their captian. Maybe it also meant a fall to the demon realm!

She shook her head, opening her mouth to say more before blinking and stopping in her tracks in front of a solid oak door.

"T-This is where the young Meliodas is sleeping tonight."

She spoke quietly, the previous ease and confidence gone to show her pale and scared again, as if she'd done a grave thing, and as if they would dispose of her now that the task was done.

"Thanks."

Ban said shortly, looking to Merlin for them to teleport inside rather than open the creaky door and risk someone noticing. Worst of all the captian himself if he were sleeping lightly.

They popped into the room with the maid with them who seemed frightened by the change. Although, currently she was more frightened by the expressions on each of their faces.

They had already been angry.

They had already suspected a sick, twisted, nature to why he was turned into a child.

However this confirmed it in their minds.

Merlin put together why they looked like that once realizing none knew of the blood relationship the two had, so she quickly cast a spell to mute then from the outside world. Causing them to only be able to communicate with each other and the maid. She probably should've also taken the time to explain the nature of their relationship in her efforts, but by then she was already taking notes based on her observations and theories about the motive behind the spell now that she had seen this for herself.

"That sick son of a bitch...."

Ban's voice was a growl to those who heard, only one frightened as others were in similar states.

They were all positively fuming as the boiling pot started to pool over, in Diane and Ban first.

They both turned to the maid, fury etched in their features.

"How can you allow this like it's okay!?"

"Why haven't you done anything!?"

"Those sick bastards turned him back for this!? They're more messed up than I could've imagined!!!"

"How DARE they do this to the captian!"

The furious onslaught continued as the maid scurried back in fear.

"W-Wait. Y-You don't seem to understand!"

She said it meekly as the group was crowding her now, berating her for knowing this was happening but doing nothing. And due to the soft tone, her words went unheaded as Harlequin had joined in this and Elizabeth was crying softly for their captain.

It wasn't for another five minutes that Merlin finally spoke up, getting them to quiet down.

"Listen to what she has to say everyone. You're scaring the poor girl to death."

After the cooly stated words, Merlin went back to her notes, not even looking up previously. However even if said with lack of care, it had been enough for them to shut up long enough for the maid to regain her bearings.

"M-Master Zeldris isn't doing anything indecent to the boy.."

"How can you say that-"

Diane started, although quickly shut down by a warning from Merlin to stay silent while the woman spoke.

"Th-The young master is the third prince as I've stated before.. The two coming before him being Estarossa, the heir, and Zeldris, the second prince of the demon realm. T-This was something the two would commonly do when both were younger. The third prince had terrible nightmares as a child that made it hard for him to sleep. F-From what the boy would tell me, about losing his two brothers to the great Demon King. T-That is why the second prince, Master Zeldris, would try to provide comfort whenever possible by staying near the child. I-It helped them both rest more comfortably. A-And now that young Meliodas had reverted, it seems the nightmares have as well. T-That is why the two are asleep in the same bed."

It cooled the group down some, mainly from the shock of hearing who their captian was related to. It seemed so impossible. Their captain related to their biggest enemy!? Yet, it made some things make so much more sense. Meliodas's pride of them, his knowledge of them. How excited he would get when the supposed "Zeldy" would get off of work. The nicknames themselves, Zeldy and Esta.

All of the pieces were fitting together, but it was also making this much more complicated.

Looking at one another and noticing the pink dust starting to fade, Ban sighed to keep himself calm before looking to the maid.

"Guys, let's head back to the woods. Sarah, you're coming too. We want you to fill us in on every little thing about the captain's childhood. Most importantly, how close he is with those brothers of his."

She nodded, scared of them once again after their previous outbursts.

Ta da! Hope this chapter was better and that you enjoyed it! More coming soon!

1286 words.