Kagome ties the Tassaiga's sleuth around her waist as Elizabeth looks at the sword itself. It's not much to look at upfront, apparently very ordinary and beat up in it's current appearance. Elizabeth, however, knows all too well not to judge things by their appearance. She finds it ironic that both her and Kagome are currently in possession of their boyfriends' swords. While Elizabeth has been using Lostvayne herself and can infuse her own power with it, she can't use it to the same extent as Meliodas, nor can she unlock its special abilities. Hephaestus himself examined Lostvayne with child-like curiosity and enthusiastically asked numerous questions about it, that is until Apolline forces him to get back to work on the request she's made of him. After Elizabeth healed the male goddess, he insisted on doing something for them in return, really out of an obligated indebted gesture then gratitude. Apolline demanded that he make a language amulet for Kagome so they can communicate without difficulty.
When examining Lostvayne, the male goddess had acted intrigued and impressed with the sword's craftsmanship, that is until Elizabeth told him it was Dubs who made it. Hephaestus immediately backed tracked and said that Lostvayne wasn't that great after all. There's a slightly jealous tone in his voice. Elizabeth asks if he had something against Dubs.
"I have nothing at all against Dubs;" replies Hephaestus sharply; "I just don't think he's that great is all. Anyway, did you say that the special ability of that sword is creating colons?"
Elizabeth nods her head. "Yes, as well as greatly enhancing Meliodas's power."
"That's not Lostvayne's special ability. That's just a surface ability at best. I'm in shock that Barbatos's eldest son hasn't figured that out yet. He's barely been playing with it."
Elizabeth's not happy with Hephaestus ridiculing her love like that. Maybe Meliodas has just never thought about his scared treasure having deeper abilities, although there was a slight hint at those possible abilities during the last battle with the late demon king nine months ago. It's really not something that would ever cross his mind.
Elizabeth also asks about the foot long silver stick she's carrying. He confirms that his great-grandfather had originally made it for the ancient Greek goddess Athena. However, she changed her mind and refused to accept it, not even pay for having it commissioned. The original Hephaestus called the weapon one of his finest works, but nobody else whom he offered the weapon too ever got it to work properly. Not even Nemesis, who had technically "stolen" the weapon, couldn't release its powers despite several attempts. The weapon itself is supposed to pick its owner, and it glows whenever Elizabeth holds it up. To her surprise, it had briefly transformed into a long staff with the outline of angel/goddess wings and what looks like a large turquoise jewel in the center, even changing colors from silver to gold. Before Elizabeth could get a good look, the staff transformed back into the silver stick. Hephaestus informs her that one of its supposed abilities is to enhance her natural shields and saint coat tenfold and should protect her womb and the babies she's carrying from harm in case she gets into an intense battle. This is good news for her as she fears that she'll be unable to avoid a fight with Lucy/Nemesis once her former nemesis realizes she's around, as well as her birth mother.
"Come on Stormy, Arwin, pick up;" says Apolline on her telecommunicator. "Where are you?"
"Still nothing;" asks Elizabeth.
"No;" replies Apolline frustrated; "I hope they weren't transported to the rainbow crystal chambers. That place is a pain in the butt, especially finding the exit. Those old geezer wizards better not be toying with them, but they probably are."
"There seems to be dozens of others nearby as well;" informs Elizabeth; "They must have been transported here too."
They hear Ramesses as he hic-ups and bounces, still impatiently waiting for the jumping beans to wear off. Apolline gives a very smug look to the cat demon. "(In Greek) Ramesses, how's your wife?"
Ramesses feels chills run down his spine. "Don't ask me. We're not in touch."
"Really? I saw her recently and she said you showed up begging for money again just last year and stuck around for three months. You owe her about 300 years of back pay and child support."
"Don't remind me."
Ramesses cowards behind Kagome, who pets him gently as she has a real soft for cats (even demon cats), especially since she's always had pet cats at her home in the 21st century.
"Finished;" informs Hephaestus handing the completed jewel to Kagome. He tells her the magic words that he installed, which are in old Latin, and everybody within 100 ft. of her will understand her words, and vice versa (with some exceptions). It takes Kagome about four times to say the words correctly, but finally the jewel glows. A few seconds later, Kagome speaks, and everybody understands her.
"I don't believe it;" Kagome says with a smile. "Elizabeth, Apolline, I understand you!"
Elizabeth smiles and offers Kagome a hug, which she accepts. "Are you really from the 21st century? How is that even possible?"
"It's a long story." Kagome takes another good long look at the goddess. She could swear that she's seen her in drawings and portraits from the Middle Ages. One of Kagome's best friends is part of an medieval club at their school, and is really, really into Arthurian legends and folklore. Kagome herself had little interest in the subject before she first fell into the well that transported her to feudal Japan. Since then, however, she's paid much more attention to her friend's constant sharing and storytelling. Her friend even has a scrap book of drawings, paintings, and even pictures that somehow resemble modern photographs that are supposed to be from that time period. There is a legend of these Seven Deadly Sins, as well as a couple pictures of them in the scrapbook. The members that Kagome has just met do resemble those from the pictures if she's remembering correctly. She's also puzzled by the fact that Merlin, supposedly the same one from Arthurian folklore, is actually a woman. The photographic like pictures actually do show Merlin as a woman, but almost every single story and version portray the great Merlin as an elderly male wizard. Her friend back in the future is one of the few people who actually insisted that Merlin really was (or is) a woman. She has even said that there's a recent rumor that the Sins and some of their loved ones actually got sealed away at some point and have reappeared in modern times, but that's only a rumor, maybe.
Kagome's friend even said there's a manga and possible anime in development based on The Seven Deadly Sins, although Kagome herself thought the idea was just plain ridicules at the time, but so was the manga and anime of a modern girl who got transported back in time to find her true love and save her future was also a ridiculous story. That is until it actually happened to "her".
After a brief chat, Ramesses realizes something. "Hey, are you really Meliodas's Elizabeth?"
"Yes, I am." The goddess replies with a huge smile.
"Thank God!" says Ramesses. "Maybe he'll stop thinking everybody else is you in his sleep when you're reunited. I swear I've never been hugged and squeezed and smothered so hard in all my life. Not to mention I feel like he'll eat me at any moment. How does he even manage to pack away a restaurant's worth of food and not show it? And still be hungry?!"
Elizabeth laughs; "That's my Meliodas. Wait, you were with him? Where is he now?"
"Wasn't Inuyasha also with him?" goes Kagome.
Ramesses shrugs. "I don't know. I guess they got taken to Artemis's fortress. All I know is that one minute I'm being tortured by the hyena trio, the next Angel grabbed me and dragged me here with her. I hope Big Guy and Cleo don't blame this on me. I'm in enough trouble with them as it is."
"Who's Angel?" asks Elizabeth; "Is she in trouble?"
"How am I supposed to know? Nemesis spoke in a language I don't understand."
Suddenly, a vortex gate opens up, and out of it comes Azareth and Big Guy. Hephaestus freezes stiff, unable to move. Ramesses immediately hides behind Kagome. With a fierce and angry look on his face, Big Guy immediately goes towards the craftsman and pins him to the cave wall, barely able to restrain himself from ripping him apart.
"Where is she? What do you want with my sister?"
"Saloman, control your rage. I'll question him;" says Azareth.
"Azareth?" says Apolline; "Is it really you?"
"Apolline?" replies a shocked Azareth, barely recognizing the sickly looking, gloomy skeleton that used to be a lively, healthy and precocious child with a natural glow in her violet eyes and smile, which very rarely appears on her face these days.
"Azareth!?" Hephaestus stands in fear; "it's....been a long time. How did you track her here?"
"The vortex left enough residue for me to track. Now, tell us what Lucy wants with Angel or I'll destroy all your creations you have left and your hide out."
"Ok, you don't have to make threats."
Elizabeth remembers Jasmine talking about Azareth. Is this really "the Azareth", Meliodas and Zeldris's uncle? She ask Apolline, who confirms his identity as Barbatos's brother. Elizabeth is astounded. Like his nephews, Azareth isn't very impressive in physical appearance. He's not much taller then Meliodas and actually looks like a "harmless"; little old man. However, the power coming from him is enormous. His eyes are chocolate brown, and while they appear firm and somewhat fierce at the moment, there's a obvious kindness and gentleness behind them.
Hephaestus explains without hesitation what Nemesis is up too. Azarath had been completely unaware that an African purgatory pig could be sacrificed to close the seal, although it does make sense. The old demon also explains how he's been unable to get through to Artemis's fortress, as well as being unable to teleport there. He has, however, heard from his scouting and rescue party about the massive battle going on, although it's starting to wind down in favor of the allied Poland and Holy Roman Empire demon and goddess clans. Spies of Caelestis had attempted to trick and blackmail their neutral cousin clans of Western Europe into turning on one another in order to restart the Holy War between the clans whose ancestors had broken away from what became the Britiannian clans to live in peace and harmony, as well as keep them busy and out of Caelestis's hair. The clan leaders, however, meet before any aggressive action was taken and figured the whole thing out. The decided to attack the Supreme Diety and her army before it was too late, despite it being Sunday as they considered it an emergency situation. Most of Caelestis's forces, including most of her top leaders, have either surrounded or been captured, and the clan leaders themselves faced off with the Supreme Diety, except she retreated and has gotten away.
Nemesis obviously has her own agenda and has been going behind the Supreme Deity's back. Elizabeth is surprised by the whole picture, including the part about the seal and what'll be released if it's opened. She's also shocked that the Supreme Diety would work with Lucy/Nemesis again after multiple double-crossings, double double crossings, and betrayals. That is unless she really needed the traitor and believes she's made an offer that Lucy couldn't possibly refuse. Mostly likely they are both using each other.
Apolline has been aware of the seal and it's pieces for a long time, as her blood half-brother has been sealed away but alive within it for 2000 years, which is the only reason Artemis had wanted to force open it herself in the first place and assumed she could get it resealed with the five keys before the chaos smooze could escape. The whole part about the sacrificial purgatory pig, however, is new to her as well.
Apolline tries again to contact one of her sisters through her tele orb. Hephaestus had explained that the barrier transport to 4 possible locations, although it hasn't been perfected or fully tested when Dr. Pendergrass took it.
"Apolline;" informs Azareth; "I can track them down in no time if you have anything on you that belongs to them, or a piece of hair or something like that?"
"Could you track Stormy down from something she made with magic, like her food?" asks Elizabeth.
"That would be perfect;" replies Azareth. Elizabeth and Kagome have lunch sacks of rations that Stormy had giving to everybody (except Apolline who refused). Elizabeth hands the old demon a corn nugget and he starts his tracking spell. While he concentrates on that, Big Guy has more then a few strong words with Ramesses. He would've gone much further if not for Elizabeth and Kagome's intervention.
Several minutes past before Azarath picks up on Stormy's location! They are indeed in the rainbow crystal caverns, an underground space warp dimensional as they call it. The bishop then connects his own tele orb to Apolline's to power up the connection to Stormy's. A couple minutes later, she responds.
"STORMY!" exclaims Apolline, actually showing emotion.
"Yes sister, it's me! Are you alright? Is Elizabeth and Kagome with you?"
"Yes they are. We're at Hephaestus's cave. Don't tell me your in the..."
"Rainbow crystal caverns yes;" finishes Stormy. "Yes, the old geezers seem to be up to they're old tricks again."
"Stormy, it's Elizabeth. Are Zeldris, Gelda, and Wild with you?"
"Yes they are...oph..;" comes the sound through the orbs. Somebody has landed on top of Stormy. "(In Latin) Oh, I beg your pardon miss."
"(In Latin) That's alright. (In English) Sorry, we're trapped down here with about 2 dozen other folks. It's kind of crowded. We've been trying to get out of here for the past couple of hours, but as usual those crazy old wizards are changing the dimensional warps around and playing their nuisance tricks on us. It seems like they've come up with plenty of new ones. They've got way too much time on their hands."
"I'll get you out;" says Azareth. "Tell my nephew Zeldris I'm here and we'll be together real soon."
"I will. Uncle Azareth!? Is that really you? You won't believe this. There's this Britannian vampire named Gelda who can read and decipher this ancient code that I have in my log book. We've spent so much time researching and trying to find a book or anything with this old ancient language and found nothing, but she knows it! We should finally be able to enter Gangkhar Puensum and claim that bell."
Azarath is astounded. The code that Stormy's referring too is in a long lost ancient language with next to no preserved records. Little does he know that it was the ancient language of Gelda's ancestors on her human mother's side, passed down over thousands of years to only a very small handful of an elite group. The language had been passed down to Gelda, who may be one of the only living beings in the world who knows it. Not even Zeldris knew that his true love possessed the knowledge of a secret all but extinct language.
2222222222222222222222222222
The currently "5" Deadly Sins and friends have stopped by a restroom, much to the announce of some and relief to others. They even decided to have a bite to eat while they could, although they are still walking. Everybody who was with Stormy has plenty of rations on them courtesy of her. Meliodas of course is asking everyone for more food, and Willie notices that his own teammates are annoyed by it, especially after hearing that their captain has just ate. Inyuasha's doesn't outright ask for more food, but immediately snatches the food offered to him with haste, it's actually Meliodas who reminds him to say thank you. King, the most levelheaded and straight man like of the sins, ends up talking with Willie and they are in quite agreement over Meliodas's twisted sense of humor and sense of fun and his endless antics, but also agree about the type of loyal friend he is and fully trusting him as a leader and protector in battle.
The sins are swapping stories about the past several days. King, Diane, and Ban are in shock to learn that their captain was actually born of a human mother and that he's been half-human all along. Meliodas himself still hasn't really processed that yet. He is also surprised when Merlin admits that she's known that he's a hybrid for a long time and never told him. However, Meliodas forgives her almost instantly and moves on. Gowther has also known all along that his captain's half-human because he can sense that, but always assumed that Meliodas knew and never bothered to bring it up.
Both Willie and Inuyasha are embarrassed by the dragon sin's constant bragging about them, as well as about Queen Cleo and Iris. Meliodas is still in the dark about Cleo's condition, Jasmine's relationship to Iris, and Elizabeth's pregnancy. Ban reveals that he has sort of met his captain's sister but hasn't seem her face. Meliodas is also quite gitty, and a tad jealous, of Ban bonding with Zeldris and having drinks together, just a little. Meliodas is also bummed that Zeldris, Gelda, and Wild are currently missing again along with Elizabeth, but believes they'll be reunited soon.
Jasmine has given everyone shush shush looks to not say anything about her identity to the dragon sin, but Ban was the first one to call her Pastor Jaz, which baffled and confused Meliodas, who's never heard of a female pastor, at least not an official one.
"Not joking Cap'n;" answers Ban; "She runs her own church and is the preacher."
Meliodas nearly chocks on the cookies he's eating. "SERIOUSLY? She's a...NUN?"
Jasmine giggles. "Not quite. We're not Catholic and I'm not a nun or a priest, but I am an ordained minister."
Meliodas actually drops his food and feels disgusted with himself. He actually draws the line with nuns and keeps his hands off them. Jasmine just made it clear that she's not "a nun or priest", and she's certainly not dressed as such (although her clothes are pretty loose fitting, but not as baggy as Iris), she's still a person of the church. Meliodas feels rare shame for his perverted behavior. He picks up the bag of cookies again and aggressively shoves them in his mouth. He once again asks if anybody has a drink, however, nobody does. Stormy didn't supply any alcohol.
Ban is feeding Melidy. Diane thinks her slurping and wet snout are the most adorable thing and she looks like Hawk with black patches. King thinks she has a different look then her brother as she has black patches on her pink hair/skin, baby blue eyes, thick eyelashes, and is much thinner than Hawk, although she does resemble him a bit in the face.
Hawk is giving Hana a piggyback ride. Bluey wants a turn, but Hana insists on staying on the piggy. Hana and Diane can now communicate and are ecstatic by it. Diane explained to her about the magic amulet.
"What things do you like little girl?" ask Meliodas and King at the same time.
"My name's Hana, not little girl. I like butterflies, and flowers, and playing in rain, and climbing trees."
"Really;" says Meliodas; "You're all little daredevil."
"NO!!!! I'm not a devil! I'm a good girl!"
"I don't think she understands that slang Meliodas;" says Merlin.
Then for seemly no reason, Hana starts talking about Diane. "Diane's real nice. She grows really big. She carries a really big hammer, and lightning comes out of it."
"Hey Hana;" says a curious Ban; "Tell me about Elaine.
"Elaine has beautiful wings and she flies. Mother says that Eliane has a baby in her belly."
Ban stops in his tracks, as do Meliodas and King. "What? Did you say that Eliane has a baby in her belly?"
"Yes. Mother said Elaine's got a baby in her belly, just like I was in her belly."
Ban stops moving for a moment and looks as if he's in a trance. Meliodas also gasps. Everybody else stops moving as well.
"Seriously?!" asks King; "Diane, is Elaine really pregnant?"
Diane smiles. "Yes Harlequin, she is. Hana's grandmother says she's sure that it's a son. She can tell by some special magic. And guess what Captain, Eliza...,"
"Diane!" says King shushing her; "Remember about telling you know who about, you know what?"
Ban is still in a frozen trace. Meliodas approaches him. "Ah Ban, you alright?"
The fox sin snaps out of it. "Oh, yes Cap'n. Is it really true, I'm going to be a father?"
Diane again confirms it. Ban gets a big smile on his face, and Meliodas slaps him on the back. "Congregations Buddy! You won the bet. Guess I'm the one who has to take you on the ultimate drinking spree. But don't expect me to pay for all of it."
"What do you mean Cap'n;" asks Ban; "That wasn't our deal. Besides...." Ban catches himself; "You know what, maybe we should split the tab after all. I'll be generous."
Meliodas is perplexed, that sure doesn't sound like Ban. "Seriously, you'd do that. Are you trying to butter me up for a bigger favor? What's the catch?"
Ban snickers; "You'll find out soon enough. And it's really not that much of a catch." Ban then looks like he's somewhat in the twilight zone, taking it all in. "I'm really going to be a father! I was wondering when Elaine started acting strange."
Everybody then starts giving their congregations, including Hawk who is clearly on cloud nine, excited about yet another little one to give piggyback rides too and for Melidy to grow up with. Bluey's also enthusiastic about the baby, however, she's disappointed that it's not a girl. Hana too is disappointed that it's not a girl and ask Ban if ok not having one. Ban picks her up and assures her that he believes his next baby will be a girl. Ban hopes and believes that he'll have two children with Elaine, one boy and eventually, one girl.
King seems to be in the twilight zone. Diane notices and guesses what's on his mind. King is taking in the fact that he's going to be an uncle but is also somewhat disappointed that he and Diane aren't expecting yet. Maybe they will soon. After all, if Eliane got pregnant, King will surely procreate as well.
In the mists of all this joy, Merlin is somewhat reluctant to disrupt this joyful moment. However, she remembers her sister and reminds everybody that they must get going, giving a sinecure apology about disrupting the joy. Willie actually calls the boar sin by her real name, which completely surprises and astounds the mage. No human outside of Merlin's own family has ever pronounced her true given name currently. It's not even supposed to be possible for human to be able to say it as it's not in any known human language. Barely any demon or goddesses has ever attempted to say it. Meliodas can't even comprehend Merlin's true name nor have to say it.
"How? How do you know my name? How can you even say it?"
"Because Nuri calls you by that name;" answers Willie. "She told me all about you and even how to say your name. She told me everything so that I....to protect me."
Merlin's mouth drops open. If Nuri told this guy to protect him, that must mean that he.....has feelings for her. No....not mere feelings. Perhaps, does Nuri too if she told him her story? Merlin doesn't cry but feels a real sadness inside of her. More than ever, she must get this curse broken. Nuri deserves to have the love that Merlin ruined for herself, and Willie mustn't suffer and pay the price like Escanor did.
Several of the sins, as well as Hawk and Bluey, recieve a message from Gowther. He, Iris, and Vald are just around the corner. Meliodas hears Iris being refired to as Jasmine's sister, and he actually stumbles and falls down hearing that. Naturally, Iris had informed him that she has a sister she's very close with, although Meliodas largely allowed that information to go in one ear and out the other. Aside from mentioning her family, church, and faith (most by transplant telepathy), Iris has said very little about herself.
"You're....you're....Jasmine?! My sister's....SISTER?!"
Jasmine giggles. "What do you think, Meliodas?"
The dragon sin's mouth drops wide open. He feels even more embarrassed about his pervious actions. This automatically makes Jasmine his and Zeldris's sister by default. Plus, she's a volucish, like Nuri (even though he doesn't yet understand what that means).
One sister's hard enough to process, now TWO! Blood or no blood, Meliodas and Zeldris now have two sisters.
This whole time, Arwin has stayed on the outside looking in. She can sense that Jasmine and Iris are as close as she is with her own sisters and mother. She also feels that this whole group has a very similar family bond, and wonders where her own sisters, mother, and the rest of their friends are.