Dragon of Wrath

Chapter 3: Dark Dreams

Disclaimer: I, unfortunately, do not own Nanatsu No Taizai, otherwise known as the Seven Deadly Sins. If I did, Season 2 would be out already. I cry. Author's Note is at the bottom.

"Merlin, Meliodas, why are you contacting me so late at night?" Baltra asked from Merlin's crystal ball. "Has something happened to Elizabeth?" I shook my head. "Elizabeth is perfectly okay. We have something else we need to discuss with you." Baltra immediately turned from concerned father and friend, to king. I respected that about him. "Let me guess, it something about the Second Holy War?" Merlin and I nodded, not at all surprised that he already knew. His power, 'Vision', was very powerful.

I told him what he already knew, but, like me, desperately didn't want to be confirmed. "The Ten Commandments have returned." Baltra sucked in a breath and leaned back. He sat there a moment and then softly cursed under his breath. "It is as I feared then." He looked me in the eye. "Are you ready?" I shook my head. "I've ordered that we continue traveling through the night. They'll be weak from escaping the seal. We have some time to prepare. Not much, but we'll make do."

He nodded. "I don't suppose Elizabeth will be convinced to come home?" I snorted. "Baltra, you have to admit, when Elizabeth sets her mind to something, she's admirably stubborn. She's not going anywhere." He groaned. "You're right, of course." He glared at me. "I still haven't forgotten how you two were when she was younger." I chuckled and shrugged unapologetically. When Elizabeth had been a toddler, it was obvious that she preferred me over Baltra. It had been hilarious to see his jealousy, which apparently, hadn't lessened one bit.

"So, what are your plans?" "We'll have to postpone the search for Escanor for a bit," I said, then remembered something. "Merlin," I said, turning to her, "can't you use Location to find him?" She smiled at me in that annoyingly mysterious way. "Yes, I could." I nodded decidedly. "Okay then. While you search for him, the others and I will go to Istar." Since it was only a few days from here, it made sense to go ahead and get my strength back. And train a bit. Baltra nodded. "That's probably best. But how will you know when the Commandments have regained their strength?" I gritted my teeth, knowing there was only one way. "I have a way."

Baltra looked me solidly in the eyes. I refused to budge, staring back at him with all the stubbornness in my body. Finally, he gave up and sighed. "Meliodas, you are one mysterious man." I grinned. I was sure I wouldn't be mysterious much longer, not with those two here. Damn it all. "Is that all? Or is there more bad news?" Baltra said saltedly. "No, Your Majesty. That is all." Merlin said. "Goodnight." Baltra dismissed us, then the crystal went black, leaving us in Merlin's dimly lit laboratory. I collapsed backward, into a chair. "Well, that went better than I thought it would."

"Captain?" I looked up at Merlin, who had a troubled expression on her face. "Are you sure about this?" I shook my head. "It's risky. And undeniably stupid. But it's our best chance to find out what the Commandments are doing." She sighed. "You're right, of course. What about Elizabeth? She can't be sleeping with you tonight, if that's when you're going to do it." "She'll sleep with Diane." I stood up, not liking the fact that she wouldn't be with me tonight, but it might be best for her to stop sleeping with me. "In fact, it might be best if Diane and her share a room from now on." Merlin nodded, choosing not to question me. "Meet me in my room after I get Elizabeth situated." "Yes, Captain."

I stepped out of the window. Yes, the window. Merlin had used some crazy-assed spell to make the window right next to the bar into a portal. Thank my rarely lucky stars that no one had gotten thrown through it yet. That wouldn't be good. Which, then again, I thought as I trudged across the room and up the stairs, avoiding Gilthunder, Howzer, and Slader's bodies, since they slept in the tavern part of the Boar Hat. I never really had to deal with any bar fights, since most people would have to be absolutely insane to pick a fight in here.