#Experiment: Zeldris AU

[hihopelessromantics]

BOOM. FANFICTION

We have a dead OC haunting the narrative, we have absolutely soul crushing whump, we have hurt/comfort and a little sprinkle of hurt again at the end! What's not to love!

HELL YEAH! Another entry to the 7-rats-in-a-trenchcoat holy war cinematic universe!!!! Today is a gooood day

when I saw the mail icon I was like I HAVE BEEN CONTACTED YEAAAAAAA

today... is an even better day because we got more Saorise... I'm gonna cry.

You know, I didn't recognize that the "dead oc" was her until I saw her actual name, because in my mind she's still alive and running around as a vital part of the ten commandments. I haven't done anything but gently put her in the background of the daydreams with a cookie of her choice yet, because knowing she was Zeldris's only friend on top of being her own lovable self and now learning that she was a like sister to them both- my HEART 😭

i cannot touch that yet. it is holy. but one day, if I have your approval, I swear I'll make her a happy ending. bc that's what I've been doing since I was little for tragic narratives (Cough, cough, Darkstalker Legends, if you know you know) and now's as good a time as any to step up my game. just the prospect gives my heart the zoomies

me when a writer I love makes an oc and gives them the good angst: 👀 is mine to love? to cherish? to make fictional happy endings for? fictional happy endings that don't exist for the characters that don't exist, that are wonderful and die a horrible undeserved death that fits the themes and story so well my heart is screaming?

oh... so THIS is where that sketch is from...

can you tell I can't write tragedies but enjoy the themes and execution of them so much that I religiously read and corrupt them anyway? yeah 😍

[sevendeadlyheadcanons]

The Seven Deadly Sins if they played Minecraft

I love minecraft. Imagine this is like a modern AU but they also have all their abilities and stuff still.

-They all have a realm together. Meliodas owns it.

-Ban and Meliodas can’t build for shit and have little dirt houses.

-Elaine, Elizabeth and Diane have a cute girl house that they share (they looked up the design on pinterest) and they let them sleep there in exchange for mining goods and loot

-King builds the most extravagant house ever and Diane eventually moves in with him. He has a dog named Oslow

-Merlin knows how to make all of the potions by heart

-She absolutely stole a villager’s house and sleeps there

-I like to imagine Escanor (daytime) would hype his house up so much and be like “This house is the pinnacle of our village” and it just looks like this

-Gowther builds a humble little home. It’s very beautiful but it’s not very spacious. It’s simply good for what he needs. He got a cat called Nadja.

-Gowther is also CEO of farming crops. King is CEO of farming animals (Ban breeds them and kills them for meat when he’s not looking because King finds it cruel)

-Meliodas also has a parrot named Wandle

-Escanor writes poems in books and quills and leaves them signed as “Author Unknown” and leaves them in an item frame on Merlin’s doorstep. She knows it’s him but doesn’t have the heart to tell him she knows.

-Merlin somehow has every single rare mob in the game in little glass cases.

-Gowther doesn’t need to sleep so he stays up all night mining and everyone will wake up and he’ll be like “Hey guys i’ve got 269 diamonds you want some?”

-Merlin forces Orlandi to take over the computer and strip mine for her while she does her real life work and experiments

-They invited Zeldris and he was like “Minecraft? That’s a game for little babies. Call me when you’re playing Fortnite like real men”

-Meliodas and Ban probably fought the wither while everyone else was offline and they just came onto their game to find their village blown up and a beacon in the middle of the wreckage.

-King dies all the time to the most random shit. Lightning strikes, fall damage, baby zombies. Once he tried to prank Ban back by leading a creeper into his dirt hut but in the process the creeper got struck by lightning and became charged and absolutely demolished King.

-Diane can’t build to save her life but she takes designs off Pinterest and then pretends she came up with them all on her own

-Elaine is a god at building. She decorates their whole village with lanterns and cherry blossom petals

-Elizabeth can somewhat build but often needs inspiration

-Ban has a horse he named “Young Sheldon”

-They have a discord server and King is the mod. He has constant power trips. The only one who has admin privileges is Diane.

-Escanor kills every mob he can and puts their drops in item frames on his wall as “Reminders of the ones who couldn’t pass him”

Idk why i wrote this, I hope you guys are having a lovely day 💙💙💙

[librathefangirl]

Help Me Brother, for I Am Falling

ao3 (1k+; One-Shot)

(Modern All-Human AU) He shouldn’t do this. Worst Big Brother Award right here. The last thing he wanted to do was risk dragging his baby brother back into this mess. He just didn’t have anywhere else to go – and by some miracle, Zeldris opened the door. “Yo, Zel. Been a while,” Meliodas mumbled, trying to smile as he leaned heavily against the wall. His vision blurred slightly around the edges. Oh, that probably wasn’t good. Zeldris’ eyes narrowed, “What the hell are you- You’re bleeding.” Febuwhump 2023 Day 10 (Alt. 3): Soft Words.

Warnings: Past/Referenced Child Abuse, Blood and Injury.

Also written for the prompt: "Next time, call someone else for help." "Love you too, X!" (by @whump-galaxy)

Read on ao3 or under the cut!

When it came down to it, Meliodas didn’t want to come here. He just didn’t know where else to go.

He couldn’t involve the others. Not with this. This was too close to home and all the things he wanted to keep hidden – he needed to keep them safe from. He couldn’t risk. Even if Merlin still was an option. She did know about his dad and, well, everything. That didn’t mean he wanted her involved though. Besides, as far as he knew she had locked herself in her basement with yet another experiment. He’d probably bleed out before he managed to get her to the door. He wasn’t too keen on chancing it with the hospital either. That was way too much vulnerability for what little trust he was willing to grant Galand.

Which left…Zeldris.

He shouldn’t do this. Worst Big Brother Award right here. The last thing he wanted to do was risk dragging his baby brother back into this mess. He just didn’t have anywhere else to go – and by some miracle, Zeldris opened the door.

“Yo, Zel. Been a while,” Meliodas mumbled, trying to smile as he leaned heavily against the wall. His vision blurred slightly around the edges. Oh, that probably wasn’t good.

Zeldris’ eyes narrowed, “What the hell are you- You’re bleeding.”

“Mm-yeah. Ruined my shoes.”

Zeldris stared at him like he was crazy. His gaze flickered from Meliodas’ face to his bleeding side to his splotched shoes and back up to his face again.

“Why are you here, Meliodas?”

Meliodas tried not to flinch at strictness of his tone and the insistent use of his name and nothing else that Zeldris still clung to years after he had first stopped calling him brother. It was fair. Meliodas didn’t have any right to expect him to treat him as family after all that happened. He wasn’t about to deny his brother his anger. He just hoped he had a little bit of mercy left for him.

“I-… I need your help.”

Zeldris crossed his arms over his chest. His jaw was almost painfully clenched – even to Meliodas’ muddled mind. He glanced down at Meliodas’ side again. How much blood had he lost now? Meliodas wasn’t sure. Thinking was a lot harder than it was supposed to be. His hand was slick with it, that he knew at least. He kept having to reposition it against the wound.

“Why me?” Zeldris eventually asked. Meliodas couldn’t meet his eyes. Instead, his gaze fell to Zeldris’ bare feet. He was digging his toes into the carpet. Oh, he was anxious. As a kid, Zeldris would always step back and forth, his feet always fiddling, when he didn’t like the situation. To Meliodas, it had been a sign to reach out and steady him. Now, he didn’t know how to do that.

“I didn’t know where to go,” Meliodas admitted.

“And you thought this was the place?”

Zeldris was right. Here Meliodas was, ruining his baby brother’s life again. Except this time, it was a life he had made for himself. All on his own. Piece by little piece. Meliodas shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t be here.

“’m sorry,” Meliodas mumbled. When he pushed away from the wall, the entire room spun around him. The floor threatened to jump and slap him. Still Meliodas managed to take a few staggering steps towards the elevator. He didn’t get far though.

“Stop.” Zeldris grabbed hold of his arm. His skin felt warm against Meliodas’ – or was it Meliodas’ that was cold? When Meliodas turned to look at him, Zeldris’ blurry face wasn’t meeting his. He was looking somewhere over his shoulder. “You’re bleeding all over the hallway.”

Oh… He wasn’t wrong.

“You won’t make it to the hospital like this.”

Meliodas shrugged, almost toppling over with the action, “wasn’t goin’ to a ‘ospital.”

“Oh, good. You were just planning on dying in my elevator like an idiot then.”

Meliodas wanted to say something to that. He really did. But it took all his energy to not fall over as Zeldris guided him into his apartment. Black dots danced across his vision.

“Sorry,” he murmured one last time before the darkness took over. The last thing he heard was Zeldris letting out a loud curse.

-X-

Meliodas wasn’t sure how long he had been out for. When he woke up, he was surrounded by warmth. It was such a strange thought; family and warmth didn’t go together. Not in his family. Maybe once, he and Zeldris had shared it – but it had been years since that.

“Come on, Meliodas,” Zeldris’ voice said to his side. It was a quiet whisper, a lot softer than what Meliodas’ was used to from his grumpy baby brother. “Open your eyes, please.”

Meliodas wanted to. Especially at the waver in Zeldris’ voice. He just couldn’t get his body to move. God, everything hurt.

“I-…” Zeldris broke off. Meliodas could feel something brush briefly against his hand. Zeldris drew a shaky breath. “I can’t watch my big brother die.”

Oh…

“Ze-ngh.” Okay, not as eloquent as he aimed for.

Slowly, Meliodas managed to blink his eyes open. Zeldris stared at him like a deer caught in headlights, eyes wide and mouth slightly open. His hand was resting right beside Meliodas’ on the bed. Bed? Oh. He was lying in Zeldris’ bed, a soft blanket covering him and his brother sitting on a chair next to him.

“You’re awake.”

Meliodas cleared his throat, trying for a smile, “Don’t sound too disappointed.”

Zeldris bristled at that. As he diverted his gaze, Meliodas took the time to take the situation in. There was a big first aid kit and some supplies covering the bedside table. The blood was gone from Meliodas’ hand. His side was also very clearly not bleeding anymore. When Meliodas touched it, his fingers met smooth bandages.

“Don’t touch that,” Zeldris sighed. “You’re going to rip your stitches.”

“Stitches?” Meliodas echoed.

“Yes. Stitches.” Zeldris turned back to him, meeting his gaze. He looked wrecked. Meliodas had fainted to Zeldris in soft over-sized clothes and hair looking like he just woke up. Now Zeldris looked like he hadn’t slept for days. His hair was a complete mess, sticking up in all the wrong directions, and his eyes were red. Had Zeldris… been crying?

“You stitched me up?”

“What, you thought I’d just let you bleed out?” Zeldris looked away again. Meliodas swallowed around the emotions welling up in his throat.

“No, I just…”

“Whatever,” Zeldris mumbled, shoulders tense. “I don’t have time to deal with your dead body.”

But he did have time to sit by Meliodas beside for who knew how long.

“Thanks, Zel.”

Silence fell over them as Zeldris kept staring at the wall. Once again, Meliodas felt helpless at his brother’s pain. Moments passed before Zeldris spoke up again.

“I thought you were done with him. I mean, you left and… and-”

Zeldris trailed off and Meliodas felt his heart break. If he could do it all over, he’d do it all so different. At least where his baby brother was concerned. How would things have turned out – how would they have turned out if he just…

“Why would you go back now?”

“I haven’t!” Meliodas cried out. Was that really what Zeldris thought of him?

“So, you just get stabbed for fun?”

“No, I…” Meliodas sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I haven’t. I didn’t want to do this, but… He threatened my friends, Zel! I just… How could I drag them into that?”

Zeldris didn’t say anything, but Meliodas knew that, at the very least, Zeldris understood that. He too had to have people he wanted keep safe. Someone he wanted to not let their father ruin.

“That’s why I made a deal with Galand.”

“You think that’s wise?”

“No, of course not, but I had no choice,” Meliodas sighed again. “Galand is a man of his word. I did this, to stay out of it. I have no intention of ever going back to him.”

Zeldris nodded and Meliodas leaned back against the pillows, feeling the energy drain. He was exhausted. Zeldris somehow looked worse. Meliodas reached out, brushing a few fingers over Zeldris hand.

“I, uh, I need to get to work.” Zeldris cleared his throat, standing up. “You can stay here- Actually, you need to stay here. I’m not stitching you up again. You can borrow some clothes from the closet if you want and, well, there’s some leftovers in the fridge. So, you know…”

“Thanks…”

Zeldris walked to the bedroom door. With a hand on the doorknob, he paused, “Hey, Meliodas.”

“Yeah?”

“Next time, call someone else for help.”

A smile pulled at Meliodas’ lips.

“Love you too, Zel!”

[demonprincezeldris]

Big Bro Zel AU

Zeldris decides to introduce Meliodas to snow for the first time in his life. He had returned from patrolling the surface just as the first flakes were falling. Meliodas was very excited as he bounced up and down, screeching that he wanted to see the snow.

Zeldris chuckled as he patted Meliodas' head, saying that they'd see the snow tomorrow. Now, it was time for sleep. Meliodas fell asleep rather quickly, his chest rising up and down slowly as he started to dream.

The next day came by within a flash. After a quick breakfast, Meliodas was ready to go. Since Meliodas hadn't begun to try and activate his magic, Zeldris had to carry him. As they flew to the surface, Meliodas shivered and pressed closer to his brother. "It's cold," he muttered. "Mmhmm," Zeldris responded quietly.

Meliodas' eyes widened as he viewed the white landscape. It was very different from the lush green he had seen just months ago. Meliodas was set down, his new fuzzy boots keeping his tiny feet from freezing.

Zeldris had made sure to land in an area where he was sure there were no Goddesses around the area. He didn't want Meliodas' first experience with snow to be a terrifying one, and cut short, nonetheless.

He watched as Meliodas screeched in happiness, digging his hands into the snow and throwing it in the air. "I love snow!" he screamed, prancing around happily. Zeldris smirked, picking up some snow and gently tossing it at the younger demon, who turned around in shock. Zeldris feigned innocence, looking away from the startled youngster.

"Oh yeah?" Meliodas sneered as he also picked up some snow. Zeldris laughed as his brother threw snow at him as well, holding up his hands lazily as the cold powder hit his face.

The brothers played out in the snowy lands for the entire day, eventually retreating back to the safety of the Demon realm. Meliodas was fighting to keep his eyes open as Zeldris wrapped his cloak around him, the young demon nuzzling gratefully into the fur. "Did you have fun today, Mel?"

A tiny yawn came from Meliodas, followed by a lazy nod as he snuggled deeper into the crook of Zeldris' neck. "Yeah. I loved it. Can we go tomorrow as well?"

Zeldris smiled, gently cradling Meliodas' head as he flew down the tunnel. "Of course, little brother. Anytime."

[wlwinry]

Patchwork

Patchwork [paCHˌwərk/], noun: a thing composed of many different elements so as to appear variegated.

---------------------

Everything fucking hurts.

Zeldris figured that fantastic bit of news out swiftly, stirring hesitantly before stiffening against a wince of pain as his muscles protested. He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to relax as he pieced together how he’d ended up...wherever the hell he was. Memories, flickering and faded, pressed at his mind and he found himself wishing that Gowther was here. The Commandment of Selflessness was particularly adept at mental magic, and it would be far easier than having to put the pieces together on his own. Then again, he was always on his own, and nothing was ever easy. But if that’s what it takes to prove that I’m the best choice for the throne… He grimaced, fighting to open his eyes as he braced his hands against the cold, hard surface beneath him. Then I’ll do it gladly.

“Is #3079 awake?” a voice inquired, sounding bored--bored and cruel, bored and full of ice, bored and too-sweet and soft in a way that soldiers of the Demon Clan never were. A rustling noise--feathers?--reached his ears and he stiffened, suddenly recognizing the flares of magic that surrounded him as those of the Goddess Clan. The fucking Goddess Clan had captured him (tumbling through the sky as a blow slashed through his shoulders, cold steel piercing through his legs as he struggled and fought and snarled, light crashing down pain pain pain pain PAIN--), was probably going to torture him for information or ransom him off. A snarl twisted his lips as he scrabbled at the cold metal beneath him--a cage? They dared put him in a cage? Oh, how he’d enjoy ramming the bars through their throats one by one by gods-damned one.  

Another voice, just as soft and cold and cruel, spoke up, sounding more amused. “Well, judging from the way it’s struggling, I’d say yes.” It? Zeldris slowed, the implications of the word tugging at him. Come to think of it, they used a number in place of my name. That’s...not how prisoners are treated; at least, not how they’re supposed to be treated. There was generally a code of respect among fellow soldiers on all sides. Torture was part of the nature of war, and so was hate, but treating a prisoner like an object? Something without a beating heart (or hearts) and people who cared for them? That had always been an invisible line in the sand, except to Meliodas...but then again, Meliodas was the exception to almost every rule. A wave of resentment (stupid brother, preferred brother, rebellious and cold not like me I should be king) swamped him and he gritted his teeth as the second goddess (they sounded male, but he couldn’t be sure) went on, “I would think that princes had more decorum than this. Gods know our princess certainly does.” Prince? So they knew who he was, but didn’t care...which was a bit of a leg up on him, since he had no damn clue who these people were. For some reason, his eyes felt too heavy to open, his mouth too dry for any sound to escape, but he managed to deliver what he thought would be a properly scathing look at the other side of the cage, baring his teeth.

“That’s not saying much,” the first goddess muttered, earning a bark of laughter from the other. “Running around with the Faerie and Giant Kings and talking about peace...bah. We’ll be the ones to win this war for Stigma.” And Zeldris twitched, eager to growl “Think again” or something of the like, but his mouth still wouldn’t cooperate and all he could manage was a hiss as an icy hand grabbed his arm, resisting the urge to shiver as his skin brushed against cold metal--the bars of the cage? “Hopefully it dies slower than the others, at least. I hear Greater Demons are made of sterner stuff than their low level ilk. Pity we couldn’t take his brothers, though…”

His brothers. Why did everyone always want his brothers? Estarossa was practically useless--powerful, yes, dangerous, yes, but capricious and indecisive and altogether too gleeful for this entire war. Meliodas was the opposite--too powerful, too dangerous, too proud and fearless and feral. No one kept him in check because no one actually could. And, he realized bitterly, Meliodas never would’ve been so stupid as to let goddesses catch him anyway. Bastard, he thought, ignoring the trickle of fear and the stupid, childish desire to wish that his brother was here with him, that someone would come save him--as if he needed saving.

“Probably for the best. They’re more volatile,” the second hummed with a rustling noise that made him picture a shrug. “Anyways, Subject #3079, administering serum.” Serum? The feeling of raw fear increased and he felt himself shake as the prick of a needle was braced against his arm, against the vein. What are they doing what are they doing scared scared don’t want go away help help please no someone anyone help. “Mark it.”

“Marked,” the first replied, and Zeldris trembled uncontrollably, his breath hitching in his throat at the sudden note of excitement in their voice. Not good not good what are they trying to do oh gods oh no oh no. “Here’s to hoping it survives, eh?”

“You know it won’t.”

They shared a laugh as the needle pierced his arm, and Zeldris screamed as agony rushed through his veins, pain the likes of which he’d never felt wracking his body as something too cold and too hot and too much rushed through him. He screamed as the world twisted and blurred and crumbled, as the comforting darkness of his closed eyelids bled away to bright, piercing light, as his bones broke and melted and seemed to reform within him, his flesh turning to ice that felt as though it would shatter if he so much as shifted a tiny bit, as he writhed, trying in vain to escape the crushing white-hot torture from closing in on him.

He kept screaming as the shadows reached and swept him away, into dreams of crackling light and swirling darkness, where no one was his ally and his very own weapons were the instruments of his destruction, heaven and hell uniting to torture him.

------------------------------------------

“Subject #3078, dead.”

Zeldris stirred, shifting slightly as he forced his eyes open--hey, he could open his eyes now, and that...that crushing agony from before was gone. Completely gone, no aches or twinges or anything, nothing except for a strange sort of heaviness on his back. He almost felt good, if a bit weak and shivery (maybe it had something to do with the four weights on his back?)--but then he saw the cage surrounding him and froze up, eyes widening. Gray and cold were the first two things he managed to process; there was nothing but silvery, icy metal and rows of cages stacked to the ceiling as far as the eye could see (excluding the splashes of color that were the goddesses’ wings), a strange white rectangle etched into a wall--a door, maybe, but three rows away, impossible to reach from his position (at least, in that weird, almost detached state). He’d have to wait until his strength returned, if the goddesses ever were foolish enough to let it, which seemed highly unlikely.

He pushed down the sickening feeling of dread, instead shifting so that he could peer through the bars at the cage next to him--and he nearly threw up then and there. A--a creature lay on the floor of the cage next to his, something with twisted, deformed wings the color of ashes splayed wide, veins black as the night itself and wide pupil-less golden eyes, their mouth flecked with foam. He couldn’t tell whether the thing had been male or female, but horror swamped him at the sight of them, horror and fear and anger and all sorts of emotions he hadn’t felt in years swirling into an awful mess inside him. Zeldris swallowed down bile, squeezing his eyes shut as more emotions than he’d had since he came of age swamped him, the rawness of it all tearing at him bit by bit. Father sealed away his emotions when he came of age just like he did with all Greater Demons; feelings as strong as theirs were weaknesses on the battlefield, and his father’s magic kept them locked tightly away so that they could serve without being affected by fear or doubt, but something--that strange serum they’d given him, probably (he shuddered at the memory of the blistering pain that had wracked his body)--had undone that enchantment and now everything was hitting him in full force and he was scared and he felt sick and he wanted to go home.

He flinched as a clang echoed near his ears, opening his eyes cautiously as he wrestled with the urge to vomit. A goddess with wings that were almost mint-green and hair the color of the night sky twisted up made a note in some sort of book, her golden eyes dull with boredom. “#3079,” she muttered, and Zeldris choked down a whimper (a whimper; it had barely been--how long had it been? Not long, surely, but he was already this weak) as a sudden bolt of fear slammed into his chest. That was the number they’d called him when he’d last been awake, when they’d grabbed his arm and he’d been too weak to stop them from jamming that needle and its poison into him. He closed his eyes hastily as she raised her gaze from the notebook (maybe they’d think he was dead, maybe he could escape when they got rid of the bodies or something, maybe maybe just maybe). “Distinct humanoid form...well, that’s better than #3078,” he heard her mutter (the same voice from last night, so cold and soft and utterly brutal in its precise cruelty). “Hm…” A finger brushed against--against something that definitely was not there when he’d collapsed, something that hurt at the touch like a barely-healed wound might. Despite this, Zeldris forced himself to stay limp, pushing past the curiosity and sickening terror--and then succumbing as she added, “These wings…”

Wings? Shock and horror pulsed through him and Zeldris flinched away with a gasp, forgetting to play dead as he bolted into a sitting position, craning his head to look over his shoulder. That’s impossible, I wasn’t using my magic and demons don’t--we don’t have wings and we shouldn’t have all these emotions and I shouldn’t be scared; this makes no sense I don’t understand what is she talking about I don’t like this let me go I want to go home please take me home there’s a mistake I don’t have--

 Wings. Zeldris stared, trembling, at the four appendages now jutting from his back, wide and thick-feathered and horribly like the wings of the Clan that he’d been fighting for years. They hung limp from his shoulder blades, aching when he moved (he had no idea how to control them, how they were supposed to move; he had wings of magic, of course, but they’d never physically been a part of him like these) and glowing tauntingly. The right two were feathered black as a starless night, the color so deep that the individual feathers seemed to blend together into a soft, shadowy mass, and that--that, he could almost handle. The ones on the left, however, were pure white, without a fleck of dirt or grime, the feathers a little crushed and bent (had he been sleeping on them? He didn’t want to think about it at all). White, the same color as those of the Archangels and the Supreme Deity and the princess, the same color as the highest-level Goddess Clan warriors.

Goddess magic. He could feel it, too, feel it twisting and curling and pulsing inside of him now that he reached for it, now that he knew it was there. The light had someone curled around his darkness, had melded with it and made him into this thing. This not-demon, this nonexistent creature, this laboratory experiment. And that was all he was: an experiment, means to an unknown end, some kind of twisted specimen that these goddesses had created. They’d stripped away the one spell that could’ve kept him sane, kept him from feeling and fearing and hurting so much that he thought he’d bleed to death with the pain of it, and they’d changed him, made him something other.

He sucked in a shallow breath, curling his fingers into his palms, before gasping as the Goddess Clan woman grabbed his chin, yanking him forward. He slammed into the floor of the cage with a gasp, the shock more than the pain causing tears to spring to his eyes. Stop stop stop, you’re not a child, you’re one-hundred-and-fifty. That’s a full twenty-five years past coming of age, that’s--that’s the age that Meliodas killed one of the first Goddess Clan lieutenants, when Estarossa slaughtered his way through an entire company of foot soldiers, and you’re going to be better than both of them so you’ve gotta--you’ve gotta try and be normal, try and fight back and escape and go-- He choked silently on a sob as the woman lifted his chin upwards, turning his head from side to side with a look of clinical interest, peering at his eyes curiously. Home? I don’t have a home anymore, Father won’t allow me back in, not like this, not now, not ever. I’m--I’m tainted.

The woman arched an eyebrow, looking faintly pleased. “Subject #3079,” she said. “Alive and well, hybridization successful.” Hybridization, hybridization, hybridization, two things turned into one mess. Her golden eyes darkened with cruel glee and she added, “and those eyes...my, my, it’d be a pretty one if it still had a soul.” She released Zeldris and he scrambled backwards before he was even really aware of what he was doing, pain shooting through him as his back (his wings, almost too big for the cage, the tips jutting through the bars as he curled away from the ice in those eyes) slammed into the cold metal. A languid smile curled the woman’s lips and she tapped the floor of the cage, causing it to somehow shimmer into mirror-clear silver. “Serum successful,” she added, before stalking away to the next row.

Zeldris peered down at the mirror-floor before he could stop himself, shaking hands brushing his hair away from his face long enough for him to glimpse his eyes. Horror and revulsion hit him like a blow from his father’s magic. His reflection burned its way into his mind even as he flinched away from it, hands coming up to cover his face as if that could block out reality, block out what he’d just seen, block out the awfulness of it all.

His left eye was still black, still shadowed, still familiar, the spiraling crest twisting on his forehead as it had for over a century. But the right...the right was gold, the color of honey and sunsets and things demons weren’t supposed to have, to like, to care for. Worst of all, the symbol of the Goddess Clan spun there tauntingly in place of his pupil, the twisting shapes seeming to grin cruelly back at him. Black and gold, black and gold, black and gold and wrongwrongwrong.

He wasn’t a demon anymore. He wasn’t a prince or a warrior or even one of the Goddess Clan. He was an it now, an it unworthy of being treated like a living being, of anything other than being shoved in a cage and kept for--for what? For other experiments, or for battle, or just as some sort of freakish curiosity to be paraded around? A grotesque patchwork of two things that were never anything but enemies… Sounds about right, he thought, and his eyes burned as tears pressed in.

Zeldris was...Zeldris was nothing.

A sob bubbled up in his chest, and this time he didn’t try to swallow it down, burying his face in his hands. Nothing.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Three months (or maybe four, he marked time by how often the lights went out and kept count by pulling out feathers) passed and they still couldn’t brainwash him. The goddesses (this faction, at least; he did remember the woman with green wings--Green, he’d started calling her, green like envy and poison and things too lush and beautiful to be anything but deadly--saying that the Supreme Deity had canceled the initiative a while ago, leading them to run it behind her back) had set out to create a supersoldier of some sort, a controllable beast that could win the war by using the Demon Clan’s magic against them along with Goddess Clan light and healing, but instead they ended up with a terrified patchwork creature who was resistant to their mind manipulation and nothing else. Zeldris found it kind of ironic, except for the fact where he almost wished they could take his mind and reform it. Maybe then all these awful emotions would go away and he’d stop crying so much and he could go back to fighting and not caring--fighting for the wrong side, yes, but it wasn’t like it really mattered anymore. Father would kill me himself if I ever tried to return.

Being susceptible to mind control also might’ve changed their decision to “break it the old-fashioned way”, which would’ve been...well, nice, because it turned out that a constant state of fear made him very susceptible to torture. Zeldris huddled in his cage, the paper-thin coverings he’d been given (his old clothes had apparently been bloodied and returned to the demons, according to Green) doing nothing to stop the chill from seeping into his bones. He shivered, biting his lip as the familiar clack of heels on tile resounded through the room of dead and dying things, willing the pain to stifle the urge to cry. He’d shed more tears during these months in this awful cage than he had during a century of agonizing training, probably cried more than he ever had as an infant. Maybe if I can stop, I’ll wake up. If I stop crying, everything will go back to normal and I’ll be strong again and I’ll wake up in my chambers in the Demon Realm and it’ll all be a nightmare, I’ll never have to see any of these people again and I’ll be a proper demon. Just don’t cry. He curled his trembling fingers into his palms, overgrown nails cutting jagged crescents into his skin. Don’t cry. He shifted his--no, the, they couldn’t be his, the wings being his meant that what they’d done was permanent and irreversible and it just couldn’t be--wings slightly, twitching them enough so that they curled around him, a warm shield of light and shadow; they were weak, so weak (months of nothing but stale water and scraps thrown at him every now and then had caused the muscle he’d worked so hard to build to atrophy, making him even more useless, even weaker than before), but at least he could move them now. He inhaled sharply as the sound of heels halted, trying to force himself to peek through the wall of feathers. Don’t cry.

The attempt to hold back his tears didn’t work. It never did.

He instinctively shoved further himself into the corner of the cage as Green stopped, her eyes glowing with triumph as she gave him a once-over. I know I’m a monster, I know I’m a mess, I know I should’ve died when the serum was put into me, please don’t speak don’t hurt me just let me stay here please… “#3079,” she chirped, her voice wickedly cheerful, and he shuddered at the sound as she unlocked the door. “You have permission to exit the cage. If you would follow me to the chambers…”

The chambers. He swallowed down a rising wail of terror at the mention of the chambers, inching forward slowly despite the sudden pulse of fearfearfear within him. The last time he’d tried to hide in the cage, they’d broken both his arms and put a collar on tightly enough to choke him, so tightly that he’d been barely able to get enough air into his lungs to stay conscious (he hadn’t, of course, passing out multiple times, but they’d just pummeled him until he woke up). Zeldris dropped unsteadily to the ground, gasping as the world spun and blurred around him, his legs buckling. Nononono don’t faint faint means hurt faint means water and lighting and breaking don’t fall don’t fall don’t fall--

Pain shot through his head and he sucked in a shaky breath, tears welling as Green pulled him up by his hair, holding him up easily. Her golden eyes flashed with amusement as the wings went limp of their own accord, trailing on the ground as he struggled wildly--and then she dropped him, a strangled cry escaping him as pain shuddered through his body, humiliation and fear and hurt swirling within him in a sickening whorl. “#3079, proceed to the chambers,” she repeated, a hand (too tight too cold too much too much too much--) hauling him unceremoniously to his feet. Zeldris felt a whimper escape more than he heard it, wings curling around his body in a feeble attempt to protect himself. It wouldn’t work, of course, nothing ever did, not anymore, not even the magic they so desperately wanted him to use. If he guarded himself with the hybrid magic (wrongwrongwrong but it felt right it wasn’t supposed to feel right it’s not natural; he’s not a demon but he’s not a goddess and he’s just not anything worth having so that means that it shouldn’t feel natural but it did and he didn’t understand), they’d say things to him about the Demon Realm, about the people he’d considered...not friends, demons couldn’t have friends, but about his comrades and family and how they didn’t care and everything would just break.

Please let today not be a day of words, he begged silently, shuffling along behind Green, wings still hanging limp. There were different “themes” of breaking each day--fire was one (he’d been burned alive, a brand now burned into his spine, a mark that he would never be free of this cold white hell), water another (drowning, gasping, being forced to stand in a tube as water slowly filled it, helpless and fighting for breath as he was chained to the floor), along with lightning (electrocution; at least that was straightforward), earth (being buried alive, suffocating, too much weight it hurts help help please make it stop), and then words. Insults, sneers, no one loves you, you stupid fuck, your brothers laughed when they heard you’d been captured, our informant told us that you’ve been stripped of all titles and family ties, how does that feel, Prince of Nothing? Those days were worse than fire, than earth, than water and lightning combined because the other kinds of pain, as it turned out, went away. He didn’t scar anymore, physically couldn’t, but those words always found cracks in his armor, always twisted and hurt more than anything else because they were true.

They passed the chambers, though, Green giving him a shove when he lingered by the door. Confusion--confusion and fear, because at least the torture was routine, at least he knew when it was coming, but this was new--swamped him as she shunted him along and out a door he’d never noticed before today, out the door and--and there was the sky. Zeldris halted, eyes widening as sunlight poured down into the small courtyard he’d been taken to, the sky wide open and the loveliest blue he’d ever seen, warm and inviting and bright. Too bright for his weakened eyes, anyways, but he stared despite himself, tears streaking down his cheeks as his wings ached with the desire to soar upwards. He barely noticed as a manacle was clasped around his ankle, swaying slightly as he reached up with trembling hands. Close, so close, I can almost taste it I want to go please let me go I want to fly I want to be free.

“Wings up, #3079,” Green snapped, and he flinched, instinctively snapping his wings up against his back. “We don’t have time for your antics. If you are to crush the demons--” he flinched again, harder this time, because he didn’t want to crush the demons, he just wanted to go home-- “then you must, at least, have the ability to fly. That cuff on your ankle will administer an electric shock if you try to escape, so I suggest you don’t attempt it.” The look in her eyes said that the shock would be the least of his punishments, so Zeldris swallowed and dipped his head, giving a tiny nod. “Good. Wings up.”

Green’s instructions were, loathe though he was to admit it, actually rather good. It turned out the method that the Demon Clan used for flight mimicked the actual wing movements of those who had physical wings, a kind of scooping motion rather than just flapping up and down. He practiced unfurling them, holding them up and out until he was crying from the pain or until she was satisfied (the two weren’t mutually exclusive, though, the slight curve of her mouth whenever he was unable to hold back tears a sure sign of her contentment), practicing the movements slowly without actually taking off. He kept his eyes on the sky the whole time, on the cloudless expanse of blue, on the promise of freedom that he’d never have again. The thought was unbearable, but he was unable to focus on anything else--which was probably why he bolted as soon as Green instructed him to fly a lap around the courtyard, wings pumping as he launched himself into the sky, climbing desperately higher. Fly, some bone-deep instinct crooned to him, even as Green roared her displeasure from the ground, and he spread his wings, catching a thermal draft and shooting higher, higher, even higher; Zeldris could feel his lips stretching into a smile for the first time in months, he was going to get out, to be free, he could go anywhere--

Pain shocked through his body and a scream tore from his throat as he writhed wildly, dropping like a stone. He reached blindly upwards as the electricity continued to pulse through him, reaching for the endless blue as a sob broke in his chest. Nonononononono--

They broke his wings that day and healed them in the wrong positions, so that he wasn’t just a grotesque patchwork thing that would never be natural, but a grotesque patchwork thing that was utterly useless on top of it all.

Zeldris would never fly again.

Worthless.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Five months.

Six.

Seven.

After that, Zeldris lost track of how much time had passed--or, more accurately, he didn’t bother keeping track any longer, because the goddesses were right and that tiny, futile hope that someone, anyone would come for him was long dead. I’m never getting out. Father doesn’t care, Estarossa doesn’t care, Meliodas doesn’t care--they were right. Green was right. They--they hate me now, they don’t want me. I wouldn’t want me either. A bitter laugh pushed past his lips and he buried his face in his knees, hating the tears that slipped down his cheeks, the broken wings that were just a mark of how ruined he was, the eyes that stared back at him whenever he looked in a mirror. Of course they wouldn’t come; he’d never been as bloodthirsty as Estarossa or had as much raw power as Meliodas, he’d never have been able to convince his father to make him the heir. Worthless, nothing, a not-demon and a not-goddess, stolen from both and unworthy of either. I’m--I’m a mistake. He curled his wings a little more tightly around himself, as tightly as he could with the misshapen bones and twisted feathers. Green had said there’d be no “training” today, because apparently someone important was coming to the palace and Zeldris...well, the Supreme Deity didn’t know he existed. I wish she did, he thought, shivering and digging his fingers tightly into the thin fabric of his coverings. Then maybe she’d kill me and then everything could go back to--

The door clicked open and Zeldris stiffened, instinctively shoving himself more tightly into the corner of his cage. He couldn’t quite make out the figures that had just entered, but he could hear them, hear the soft voice of a young woman and the almost-familiar timbre of someone else’s. People who weren’t Green or the guards, people who-- He squashed that hope as quickly as it formed shaking his head wildly. Maybe they’ll kill me, he thought, and he knew that he should’ve been unnerved by the rush of relief that came with the words. There were a lot of things he should’ve been--stronger, faster, better, angrier still a demon, still worth something, not a lab experiment, to name a few. But here he was, weak and ruined and slow and terrified out of his wits, crying constantly and begging for any kind of escape, for the ability to leave it all behind.

They wanted a supersoldier and got this instead, he thought, and he managed a smile, one that broke and fell apart at the thought of being in the cage for the rest of his (apparently near-eternal) life. Never free always trapped always bound always always always hurt please let me out. A sob pulled at his chest and he let it escape, crying softly into his palms. I don’t have a home I don’t have a Clan I don’t have a side I don’t have anything at all I’m worthless I’m nothing and I just want to be okay please someone anyone help…

He didn’t hear the woman whisper, “There’s someone alive in here,” didn’t hear the other retch, didn’t hear them advance. Didn’t hear anything at all over the sound of a brutal future and the screams of battlefields he’d be forced onto, over the oppressive silence of these “kennels” and the awful loneliness of forever.

But he heard when a voice far-too familiar to be real whispered, “Zeldris?” He heard the shaky inhale, felt the familiar, impossible pulse of shadow magic, slowly pulled his fingers apart just a crack as hellfire melted the metal that had trapped him away to a silvery sludge. Zeldris stared, trembling, at wide emerald eyes and a mess of blond hair, at an oh-so incredulously happy smile, at raw elation and relief and rage. “Zeldris,” Meliodas breathed, and his brother’s  eyes welled up with tears. “You’re alive.” Brother brother safesafesafe different different but the same and safe safe safesafesafe free. “I--we all thought--”

And Zeldris, worthless, patchwork, wrongwrongwrong creature though he was, launched himself into Meliodas’s arms with a wail.

Home.

[zorria]

Idk where this idea came from. Ok so like, Zeldris decides to go with Meliodas and Gelda still ends up being sealed. When Mel and Elizabeth are cursed, Zeldris is also cursed… but not in the same way. You know the Beauty and the Beast? It’s like that, Zeldris is forced to take on the form of a baby dragon that looks an awful lot like a miniature version of the dragon form Meliodas took in Purgatory and his curse won’t break until Mel’s breaks because they’re all connected (this also means that he also doesn’t age or anything cuz Mel doesn’t age nor can he die) and Meliodas basically is taking care of this baby dragon when he first gets revived and realizes it’s his brother and there’s rumors that this is why he’s known as the Dragon Sin because he has a fucking dragon perched on his shoulder. When the 10 year exile happens Meliodas is searching desperately not only for the sins but for Zel too because when he woke up Zeldris was gone! (He spent the entire time with Merlin and had been with her when she revealed herself in Liones. He got to help by burning Henderickson before immediately turning around and trying to set his brother on fire for doing something so reckless and stupid as using counter revenge instead of simply using his demon powers and surprise! That dragon pet of Meliodas? It’s his baby brother.)

First off I'm really sorry I put answering this off for so long I really didn't mean to so thank you for waiting. But second i love this au so much!! Anyways let's do this!!

As soon as meliodas was reunited with zeldris after the battle he immediately began to cry as he gently cupped him in his hands and held him close to his chest relieved to have him back again and safe.

After he woke up and realized that zeldris was missing, meliodas instantly began to panic desperately searching for him in every spot he could digging up the dirt and tossing the rocks hoping by some miracle zeldris was there screaming his name the whole time as he did. But after searching for hours he began to realize that his worst fears had been realized. Zeldris was gone...as soon as his hearts and mind processed this fact, meliodas let out the most broken heart wrenching scream that he could as he began to cry screaming for zeldris to come back.

Zeldris was the last thing he had, living without Elizabeth was one of the worst things he had been through. Many times he tried to die wanting the pain to end and be reunited with eli. But every time he tried Zeldris would always be there for him to prevent him from actually going through it. Climbing Into his lap making sure his claws didn't dig into his brother as he began to nuzzle his head into meliodas's chest applying alot of pressure so meliodas would snap out of his bad thoughts. It was the only thing that worked when meliodas got like that. Not only that but zeldris was his one and only precious little brother. He meant the absolute world to him. And now knowing his little brother who was a small dragon was out in the world all alone possibly hurt and afraid or worse dead broke him...

Meliodas never stopped looking for him always looking in every spot as he continued to run the tavern. Not only looking for clues about the sins but about zeldris too. He never knew that during the battle with the holy knights as soon as he got knocked out Merlin quickly grabbed Zeldris protecting him as she quickly teleported meliods away. She would've let zeldris go with him but she didn't have time as the knights where nearly there and she was thinking on her feet.

Iiving with Merlin was an interesting experience of course she never did anything to him or hurt him. But many times he would have to run away from her cause she would want to examine him to find out just what kind of dragon he was. But he would never let her as he didn't like his personal space being jnvaded and only let people he really trusted take care of him. It took time for him to trust Merlin and even then he was still wary of her. She would most of the time let him be and do his own thing occasionally taking to him while she feed him fish. It was one of his favorite things to eat. That and as much as he wanted to eat dragon meat the dragons in Britannia where just not good enough and failed in comparison to the ones in the demon realm do to the ones in Britannia being young unlike the ancient dragons in the demon realm which was a demons favorite.

Being with meliodas again made both brothers feel complete as both of them began to purr loudly causing all the sins, knights and baltra to stare at them with shock as they never expected not only a little black dragon to appear but also for meliodas to call it his brother and purr. They didn't know it was zeldris as they all just assumed it was meliodas's pet like hawk hell they didn't even know he had a brother. It confused them alot. They were tempted to take away the little dragon in meliodas's arms as they didn't trust it no matter what meliodas said especially after the whole hendi ordeal they were on edge. But as soon as meliodas heard murners of this he immediately tightned his hold zeldris as he began to growl and hissing not letting any near them.

This immediately made all of them back off as Merlin and eli got infront of them protecting them. This shocked meliodas and zeldris as they never expected them to do that. Well Merlin they could understand but Elizabeth still didn't know about zeldris so the fact she was willing doing it touched both of their hearts. Seeing this made everyone stand down as Merlin told meliodas to go back to the tavern with eli and zeldris as she would take care of things from there. Meliodas nodded his thanks as he quickly set zeldris on his shoulder before taking Elizabeth's hand and began to walk towards the tavern with no one saying a word as they did.

It didn't take them long to arrive at the tavern and as soon as they did meliodas gently set zeldris on his bed as he watched his brother with worry. Elizabeth also looked at him with worry as meliodas refused to look at either of them instead choosing choosing look out the window trying to process everything that just happened feeling numb as he really didn't know what to say or do.

[sullina]

I like your POV the fact Eli is going to experience Original/Canon Mel suffering. I can already tell there is going to be a lot of logic in this Universe and it is going to be confusing 

Like Eli curse I think in this Au The DK is the one who curse Mel to have the reincarnation curse and The SD is the one who curse Eli immortality. I think SD wanted Eli to revert back the way she is 3,000 years by taking the emotions that she does not like its kinda like Canon. 

And the logic behind it is the absorbing the commandments idea is going to be a suicide move for Eli because as we know in Canon when Esta absorbs the 5 commandments he went berserk and insane. 

The topic I really wanna discuss The TC reactions. The TC is going to target Eli instead of Mel. I mean I'm not surprised if they hold a grudge on her because she is the reason why Mel betrayed the Demon clan. 

I would also like to see. Also just like in Canon where The TC and Mel battle each other, and Esta told that Mel used to be the leader of The TC and was the most feared demon of all. In this Au The TC will fight Eli and Esta will tell that Eli was known as Bloodstain Eli that was feared by everyone and was a ruthless killer and was the one who seduced his older brother to betray the Demon race (Esta didn't tell the name) she is the reason why the holy war started.

Zeldris will be the one to kill Eli since he is the executioner.

yeah, pretty much

I don't know about the whole "Eli absorbing the commandments" thing though. I mean we're just switching the curses, not flipping all of canon.

One way it could play out is Eli trying to absorb the commandments as a way to destroy them and destroy herself with them. When Meliodas realizes what she does, he knocks her out and takes the commandments for himself to become the demon king, which of course backfires, because the demon king instead posessess him, but now the demon king has the problem of being in a body, that's supposed to die in less than a day. He might lift the curse now that he has what he wanted though, but then he still has the problem called Elizabeth, who will revive no matter how many times he kills her, and who will never give up on defeating him.

It's hard to say how the Supreme Deity would reacts, since we have no idea what her goal was aside from punishing Mel and Eli ._.

Alternatively, Eli does absorb all the commandments and the Demon King possesses her. Problem: Her body and the commandments Do Not Mix. DK has no control over her body that's actively desintegrating. Elizabeth herself is in so much pain and confusion that she can't think straight and destroys everything around her.

What saves her in the end is either Meliodas forcefully taking the commandments out of her body into himself, or the Sins + Mel defeating her, leading to the commandments being ejected. This could lead either to the DK Zel fight, or if Eli has enough of a mind for it, she (maybe with Mel) destroys the commandments right then and there, having gained a significant powerup thanks to, you know, being alive despite having absorbed ten commandments.

After Esta revealed that Mel was the most feared demon, obviously there were questions. It's also noted that Mel hides his magic, but all the sins could feel something dark within him. Mel denies all of that, insisting that he doesn't have or use any magic.

I can imagine Zel at some point approaching Mel (maybe by kidnapping him?) with the motive of getting him to join him. Zel figured out that Mel has lost his memories and also that he's hiding his magic and the black eye. If he joins them, he can get revenge on Elizabeth for what she did 3000 years ago and will be accepted by the commandments since they're demons like him. Of course Meliodas doesn't know what he's talking about and insists on not only being human, but also on staying with Eli since he's fallen in love with her at that point.

Zeldris wanted to return his memories right then, but before he could, Elizabeth and the sins track him down and get Mel out of there. The other Sins go ahead with Mel while Elizabeth holds Zeldris off. However, the commandments sensed everyone and came to his aid, leading to Elizabeth dying and Esta at some point revealing everything about Elizabeth.

Now that I think about it, Zeldris could have disguised himself at the second fight festival and gotten paired up with Mel, or paired as his opponent, and that's how they got to talking. Zeldris revealed himself and Elizabeth, believing that Zeldris wanted to kill Mel, attacked him.

[cookiecandy22]

I watched Hazbin Hotel and I can’t stop thinking about the idea of Tristan making a hotel to rehabilitate demons with the help of his boyfriend Lancelot. And Meliodas telling him not to do it cause he has experience that if a demon doesn’t want to collaborate they won’t do it. Maybe his uncle Zeldris could help him.

I don’t have a character to play the roll of Alastor, Merlin or Gowther may be but you know...¿ Or an OC of mine, I dunno any ideas?

Oh my this should be an Au, I could write it after posting the other fic I’m currently writing.

[derieri]

Favorite NnT AUs I’ve seen people make

Pirates AU (@triadfaes and )- Boar Hat is a ship, Hawk Mama is a sea pig, King is a merman and Merlin was an octopus sea witch like Ursula. Spin-off version where Helbram (lion fish merman) was trafficked in illegal mermaid fighting rings; he’s vicious and near feral when Ban rescues him

Demon King AU (@inellingible) - Instead of sealing the Demon Clan, Meliodas kills his father and takes his place as King with Merlin and Zeldris as his advisors. Three thousand years later, he decides to reconnect with the other races and ends up meeting/gathering the Seven Deadly Sins as his council of international leaders. The purist vampires rebel and manage to crucify Meliodas on his own castle gate; his father’s lingering power still brings him back but corrupt and the gang must take him down.

LoZ AU Princess of the Light - (okay this one’s mine) the Sins are the Seven Sages who fought alongside the goddess to imprison the Demon King 3,000 years ago and vanished. When Hendrickson starts wreaking havoc, Elizabeth seeks them out, but they had a serious fallout and/or other issues after barely surviving the first battle and are not interested in coming back together.

Far Future - many centuries in the future when all the Sins, Elizabeth, and all magic are long gone, Meliodas lives alone in a modern world. Merlin reappears and brings the news that magic is returning, and with it all their long-dead friends and enemies as well.

Fox Sin of Greed Elaine — if she didn’t have time to save Ban and was accused of letting her greed for the fountain doom the Forest.

New Generation Arthur (@melascula) - Hendrickson and Dreyfus/Fraudrin find the weirdly-powerful boy before Merlin does, and he’s perfect for those experiments

[moonstomars]

Do you have more headcanons about the sins, the commandments and the arcangels for that that FMA AU? It's really fascinating

Hello Anon! I find this AU extremely fascinating so I’ve tried to put down some headcanons (under the cut because it got long. At least I hope there is a cut, tumblr is not helping right now). All of this is based on this post and the replies. The original idea was @derieri‘s, those are just some random ideas I though could have worked

the Sins are state alchemists who get together for the first time during Ishval civil war. Before they were some of the most powerful soldiers in the army but they didn’t work altogether. They knew each other, though (and some of them didn’t really like each other)

Meliodas, Merlin and Gowther were actually infiltrating the army because they know something is very wrong with Amestris but they don’t know what exactly Father is planning to do. They used false names and Meliodas changed his appearance a bit. No, no one noticed. 

As already said Diane is an Armstrong and she joined the army mostly because that’s what she was expected to do. She still doesn’t like fighting and killing - Ishval was very, very hard for her (like it was for Major Armstrong actually). She would just want to use alchemy to help people. 

King became a State alchemist to protect people and maintain his family position in Amestris’ politic after his parents’ death. His sister Elaine also knows Alchemy but she is not part of the Army.

Even though she is not a Homunculus, Merlin is immortal and an Alchemist who was trained in Xerxes (by goat dad); she escaped the slaughter just in time and after a while managed to create her own philosopher stone. 

Gowther is goat dad’s son. He lost his body when he tried to resurrect his fiancee, Nadja (who died of illness). His father was desperate and, with Merlin’s help, he created a mannequin to which he tied Gowther’s soul (he had to sacrifice his life to do so). Gowther’s body, though, had died, and this makes his emotions and memories a bit unstable. Anyway, Gowther has travelled with Merlin since his father’s death.

Meliodas is a Homunculus, the first one created by Father. It didn’t go very well, he rebelled pretty soon and escaped. He joined Merlin for a while, the two of them taught each other a lot. They eventually got separated but kept in touch. Father and the Homunculi are still looking for him. 

The Ten Commandments are an elite group of soldiers like the Sins were, lead by Zeldris. Most of them don’t know about Father, nor about the Homunculi (though they could start suspecting that sometimes it’s wrong and that there are secrets hidden from them at some points). They are assigned to find the Sins by any means necessary.

Zeldris knows about the Homunculi and he doesn’t like it. He found out on his own and now he is forced to keep the secret - his team, his loved ones and he will be all killed if he doesn’t. He is trying to find a way to sabotage the plan from the inside. 

Drole is an Armstrong, and he is actually Diane’s uncle. He still can’t believe his niece betrayed the army but he never questioned it - he simply couldn’t think that the army would have ever lied to him. But as time passes, he starts realising that he could be wrong.

And so does Gloxinia, who was King’s teacher (they have a similar Alchemy). He fought in Ishval as well, he knows it was terrifying, but he still can’t understand how King - or the other Sins - could betray the army just like that. It was too sudden, too unexpected, and they didn’t even get the chance to defend themselves before being declared traitors.

Drole and Gloxinia will turn against the army as soon as they find out about how much corrupted it is, and about Father’s plan.

Some of the other Commandments won’t probably ask many questions. Melascula, Greyroad, Galand and Fraudring are perfectly fine ignoring the fact that something is wrong, as long as they can do what they want as State Alchemists.

Derieri would probably be like this at first as well. She fought in Ishval as well, where she lost her sister (who was a nurse) in an accident and her arm. She has never been the same again, and for a while, she simply did her job, not caring about anything else anymore. She got an automail, and she got extremely good with it. 

Monspeet was Derieri’s (and her sister’s) childhood friend, they joined the army together and have always been a team. He was the one who helped her recover after Ishval civil war. Derieri is, actually, the only person he cares about, but if he knew about what the higher ranks are planning, he wouldn’t hesitate to turn against the army (as long as Derieri is with him)

About Mael, he is Ludociel’s brother but he was kidnapped when he was a child and experimented on. He was injected part of a philosopher stone that made him incredibly unstable. He serves the army as Estarossa and actually keeps an eye on the commandments and Zeldris. He is unpredictable though. Ludocile doesn’t know he is his long lost brother - he noticed the similar appearance, but so long passed since the last time he saw Mael and he is convinced his brother is dead.

Ludociel and the Archangels are a special group of Alchemists with insanely powerful abilities. Ludociel is the only one who knows about the Central Command’s plan and he is actually participating, but even though he hides it well, he still has doubts about it. 

[galfridus1]

Would you consider doing some modern au Melban headcannons when you get time?

Sure would! Especially as it is MELBAN WEEKEND STARTING TODAY!!! @meliodas-and-ban thanks for organising!

Ok here we go! Rolls up sleeves.

Meliodas met Ban at work. They were both in awful, boring, dead end jobs stuffing letters into envelopes and putting them in the post box. “Who even sends letters nowadays~” Ban drawled as Meliodas snickered.

The two soon developed a close friendship largely founded in the first instance on their mutual loathing of boss Hendrickson and love of ale. They would while away the hours after work down at the White Swan, sinking pint after pint as they shared tales and kept an eye on the football in the background.

One evening after a particularly hard drinking session, they left the pub and Ban’s bus failed to show up. Meliodas waited with him at the bus stop but it just never arrived. So Mel invited Ban back to his to crash for the night. They get to the flat and continue drinking, testing their strength in an arm wrestle which ends up with Meliodas toppling onto Ban. One things leads to another and they share their first kiss.

For Ban, it was his first experience kissing a man. For Meliodas he had experimented a little before but had never been in a committed relationship with anyone of either gender. So this was new territory for both of them. They decided to try and take things slow. That resolution lasted about three seconds however, they were devoted to each other and found it impossible to slow the relationship down.

They moved in together after a couple of months, partly because they were practically living together anyway and partly for economic reasons (okay, Ban got thrown out of his lodgings). Ban’s sister Kilia (who was rescued by social services and did not die, thank goodness) and Zeldris both got on with their brother’s other half really well. In fact, Zeldris got on better with Ban than ever he did Meliodas, something that caused a little tension occasionally.

The pair continued to patronise the White Swan, which was a bit of a dive of a pub with the obligatory thin, worn carpet and sticky wooden tables. Eventually, they decided that enough was enough and it was time to set up their own establishment. Ban cooked really well and Meliodas was good at the patter and so they figured he could manage front of house. Meliodas was also a bit of an artist and designed the Boar Hat interior.

So they needed the money. Ban was skint and Meliodas had been disinherited. Zeldris lent them the money to start up the bar. The Boar Hat became an instant success. On a more secure financial footing, Meliodas determined to propose to Ban, and purchased a ring that he was going to offer to Ban at the end of Friday’s shift. Unbeknownst to him, Ban had come up with the same idea and coincidentally also had the ring in his pocket, though he had decided to propose in a couple of weeks.

So when Meliodas took the ring out and asked Ban to marry him the answer was immediately yes. And they both got rings so that was nice :) - they’re still very happy, running the bar which has been nominated for several awards. Even Hendrickson has dropped by once or twice, telling everyone who will listen that Meliodas and Ban learned it all from him.

[demonprincezeldris]

The fact that 'Prisoners of the Sky' isn't Cannon is a bummer for me. Cause I have written Down that Catherine Kicks Bellion where the sun don't shine after he nearly risked Zeldris life.....Girl will strike below the belt if you piss her off enough....

Plus the Six Knights of Black were a few of the demons that DIDN'T like the Human....nor the idea of a human being a Candidate for the role of Demon Queen. Even though she has earned her position on equal strengths of the 10 commandments and shows compassion to the weaker Demons.

Plus I have Catherine mention that she can identify others on their scent. From being one of the reasons she was able to tell Solaad is NOT Meliodas (Also Catherine being one that fed on the ways of the Web could tell ANYWAY) to embarrassing Zeldris on how he smells like Dark Chocolate Cake frosting....

I am still making it a think in my AU regardless! Someones gotta have experience the Classic Nut Cracker!

That sounds like a good thing to add to your AU. She's well respected in the Ten Commandments, and even though she's human, she can still kick some ass.

[demonprincezeldris]

Funny enough...I've been interested in an Alien AU thanks to that Aliens looking Meliodas and Elizabeth skins.....Meliodas being Xenomorph similiar obviously but I think Elizabeth should be one of those Aliens that....I want to say sparkle or glow. Cause First off I don't want Predator Elizabeth really...Unless I combine some aspects of the glowy and Predator aliens...BAN would most likely be some Zombie cause...zombie in space why not? King would be part of a Swarm like Alien race and Diane would be the big swarm Queen. Cause lets start them off as already together.

Merlin be like a scientist and building all sorts of weapons and experimenting. Escanor obviously kinda like a Superman Krypton like Alien race cause he would get stronger in the raise of the suns. Arthur as like a Mech Pilot but still able to fight while not piloting one.

Go nuts with Pilot Arthur and Xeno Alien Zeldris shippers!

Gelda obliviously would be like a Vampire Bat alien race. Seriously don't piss her off or your inners will be your outters.

I'm still working on it. Cause theres alot of space worlds I can do with this.

I've never really dabbed in science fiction before (let alone Alien- the movie I presume), but this sounds like an amazing AU idea!

[demonprincezeldris]

When Galand said that, Meliodas immediately goes "How did you know I killed myself?" And the room pauses, even Estarossa raising his head to stare at the wayward prince.

"You... actually killed yourself?" Melascula asked quietly, "He meant when you passed out during our fight, because you were clearly near-death from trying to be human for so long, but if you actually killed yourself..."

Zeldris immediately grabs Mel by the shoulders and starts looking him over. Yes he has already been healed but- "How are you still alive?! You said it like you succeeded, so how?!" Meliodas grimaced at the, rather unfortunate, turn of events. Even though all he wanted to do was avoid this topic and, admittedly, go back to enjoying this cuddle pile, he knew that the Commandments were collectively stubborn enough to even wear him down.

"I... I was cursed. A long time ago." He admitted, "I can't die. I just... come back." There, that should be enough, right?

"Cursed?" Monspeet echoes, his tone thoughtful.

"Who the hell by?" Derieri snarled, bristling.

There's a moment where the others stare at Meliodas, but instead of prying the answer out of him like he expected, they begin to brainstorm.

"A mage, perhaps?" Galand mutters, "They would the sort to do this."

"There are few mages in all of history who could curse someone as powerful as Meliodas, and I doubt any in this era are strong enough." Gloxinia says, settling on Drole's arm as the giant still hasn't sat up.

"The druids, then? There are still tribes lurking about." Melascula says as she draped herself over Galand, having moved from her original position.

"The druids are strictly neutral in conflicts, minus the ones that affect them directly. Even then, their ways are to keep the balance of the natural world. Cursing someone like that would directly go against their beliefs, they would never do something like that no matter the circumstances." Drole explained, brows furring as he tried to think of anyone who would do this.

"It was father." Everyone froze, before turning to the source of the voice. Estarossa finally sat up, careful not to jostle Gelda as he went. "The Demon King cursed Meliodas." He stated again.

Meliodas flinched, but luckily no one saw as they stared at the tallest prince in shock. Even Meldiodas stared a little, surprised that he had figured it out so quickly- well, sort of.

"You're sure?" Zeldris asked, well, demanded was more accurate. "How do you know?" Though that question was weaker, clearly he can imagine how Estarossa could make such a guess.

"Father is not the forgiving type, and easily has the power to curse even us, his own children. It also fits his style, don't you think?" He sighs as he runs his hand through his hair, making the bedhead even worse.

"But still... to curse his own son?" Gelda asked, but at her mate's sigh, she knew the answer.

"He knew we were together, and still ordered me to slaughter the vampire clan. Especially you. It's likely he even suspected something would happen to the demon clan, and knew if that happened, Meliodas would be forced to spend eternity without even a chance at a proper pack."

The Commandments collectively shuddered at the thought. If it wasn't for the fact they knew Meliodas wasn't ready for it, they would have swarmed him, surrounding him with the smell and feel of pack and safety to comfort both him and themselves. Instead the air filled with a mix of distressed and comforting noises.

"Ah... not quite." A quiet voice piped up, finally. "While I was cursed, father wasn't the one who did this to me. He cursed someone else... while the Supreme Deity cursed me."

"What?!?!" The pack collectively yelled, and Meliodas winced as he realized what the implications of that statement meant. That the Demon King and Supreme Deity, despite being supposed enemies of the worst sort, actively worked together to do this... and he realized at that moment the Commandments had no idea of any of this and what he long suspected.

"We're... gonna need snacks. And alcohol. A lot of alcohol."

Who knows? Maybe this will make the Commandments turn against the Demon King, and if they're still around, it'll probably make the rebuilding of their race and homeland easier for Zeldris as well. And make Brittania a little less at risk of being overrun by angry demons. Maybe, just this once, things might actually go well for Meliodas. Though that could just be the contentment from finally being with pack again...

Still. He dares to hope, and dares to try.

Hopefully Meliodas' plan will work. He can tell that they still care for him, and maybe he can get the commandments to turn on the demon king and side with Meliodas.