A/N: I have returned and have been writing furiously. Please enjoy the coming chapters and let me know your thoughts in the comments below :)

The intense pressure knocked me clean out; I came to with Gowther nudging me in the ribs. The world beneath blurred into a giant green blob as we hurtled at light speed across the countryside. My body vibrated with a fearful, adrenaline filled energy that had my gut in knots and my mind unable to focus on a single thought.

"Everyone, get ready!" Meliodas cried.

We landed with a thud that rumbled the earth. Surprisingly, I landed with my legs widened, hands at the ready.

"Hurry up, Estra!" Ban was calling back to me; the others were already running towards the walls of the kingdom. I chased after them, drawing my sword free.

The castle loomed overhead, exactly as I remembered it. And before us, armoured men with weapons at the ready and shields raised towards us.

"The only reason we're here right now is to rescue Elizabeth," outlined Meliodas, "so try to keep the fighting to a minimum."

"Understood," replied Gowther.

"Yeah but we can still kick a little ass why we're here, right, Captain?" Ban asked.

"Time to put my sword skills to the test!" I shouted, taking a bounding leap into the air with a whoop.

The knights charged at us, the strongest, the toughest breaking from the pack and throwing themselves right at the captain.

"Go straight for the kill!" Meliodas commanded.

The Holy Knights in front called forth their powers: "Aura Burst! Inferno Curse! Plant Whip! Bullet Squall! Wind Shooter! Death Breath! Flick Stone!"

Meliodas drew his blade. "FULL COUNTER!" The shockwave knocked them all back.

With a roar, I threw myself into the fray. Instinct drove me forward, a puppeteer swinging my blade, deflecting blows, parrying jabs and dodging wild charge. The blade twirled easily in my hand, the weight balanced perfectly. The Knights hesitated, the screams and cries from those versing the other Sins ringing in the air.

Would I still have the upper hand if Leraj hadn't given me his motor memory? A vicious grin reached my lips as the Knights stopped hesitating and threw themselves at me. I dodged to the side with all the grace of a fox and brought down the full strength of a Holy Knight.

I cleared a path, left broken men in my wake. My aim was not to kill because these men and women who were just following orders; but I did maim a little, nothing too serious that a little lie-down and recuperation wouldn't help. Ban met at my elbow, a grin revealing his fangs.

"Having fun?"

"More than I thought I would with a blade," I said. The tingling of magic ran up and down my arms but I calmly took a breath and let it settle. Exerting my Mana would have to wait until the boss fight – for now, I could swing my blade and do just as much damage.

"Incoming."

I ducked instinctively and Ban's leg spun in a roundhouse, taking out the man who'd been lunging at us.

"We better catch up with the Captain."

We carved a path through the knights. Meliodas was standing alongside Gowther on a knoll and they were looking towards the knights. They had retreated, lingering by the gate.

"What's going on?" I questioned.

"Have they just given up?" Ban asked. "Hold on, what's that strange power?"

"It appears to be coming from the other side of the castle," Gowther pointed out.

Now that they had mentioned it, I sensed its overwhelming nature. "That doesn't feel like Diane or King."

"It isn't. It's someone else," Meliodas answered. "But we don't have time for that."

The intense magic faded briefly. The gates opened and another batch of knights filed out. Cheers rose from the remaining forces. Half spilt from the main group and charged.

"Here they come," I growled, readying myself.

I caught a man's spear with my blade and flicked it away, elbowing him in the face as momentum carried him past. The next man took his place instantly, sword swinging. I ducked, drove my pommel into his sternum then tripped him over with a leg. He went sprawling and I went over, sword clanging down on another's shield. The man beneath the steel was forced to the ground and I grabbed the lip of the shield, wrestling it to the side.

His frightened, tear streaked face met my snarling one. "If I was you, I'd stay down." He nodded mutely and I left him in the dirt.

"Geez, these guys don't let up," Ban said as I came to stand beside him and Meliodas. The second wave of knights was descending on us.

"Looks like we're going to have to wipe them all out after all," Meliodas said.

"There's a simpler way," Gowther said, taking the front and raising his arms. "Sacred Treasure: Double Bow Harlit." Two crackling purple pillars came to life, extending above and below his palms.

"Seriously?" exclaimed Meliodas.

Ban looked equally as shocked. "Where in the hell was he hiding a sacred treasure?"

Both pillars formed a bow and the strings drew back, glowing arrows knocked and read. "Now rewrite light!" Purple spheres appeared around the bows and out shot arrows that streaked across the sky, splitting into more and more with each metre.

Not a single knight was missed. They stopped in their tracks, a spark of blue bursting from their chests and backs. But when it dissipated, they were still standing.

"That was totally awesome!" I exclaimed, shaking Gowther by the shoulders. "But, uh, was it supposed to have no effect?"

"Gowther, you know those arrows didn't do a thing, don't cha buddy," Ban said.

Clatters rang out, all manner of weaponry dropped to the ground. I stared wide-eyed as the men began running towards us – not with malice but with outstretched arms.

"Sir Meliodas, there you are!"

"Ban, I've really missed you man!"

"Lady Estra, you've returned!"

"Huh?!" we all chorused just as we are swept up by the men.

One gave me a crushing hug that drove the air from my lungs. "Ack! What are you doing?! Stop hugging me!" Suddenly one of them shouted group hug and I got sandwiched in the middle. "Stop... it!"

"Lady Estra, we've missed you so much! We should have a celebratory dinner at the tavern!" one proclaimed and they all hurrahed.

I squeezed my shoulders close and sunk down to escape their arms. I crawled towards Gowther's legs, trying not to be trampled by the sudden turn of these lunatics. I grabbed Gowther's ankle and he stared down at me quizzically.

"What the hell did you do?" I said, as he helped me to my feet, only to be grabbed by the man holding Gowther and his helmeted cheek pressed to mine.

"My darling Estra, there hasn't been a day I haven't thought of you."

I made a strange, mewling noise and shoved his face away.

"It's a simple trick really. The knights now view us as loved ones they haven't seen in a long time, stopping them all in their tracks," explained Gowther.

"So you rewrote their memories?" Meliodas asked.

Gowther shushed him quickly. "It's nothing more than a stop-gap. Once they notice the discrepancies in their memories they'll return to normal. Moreover, their memory of being under the spell will be deleted."

That's a pretty neat trick, albeit a little terrifying. Who knows if he's done it before.

"Now we're trapped here," Ban said, his head shaking side to side as he's vigorously patted by the man holding him. "How do we get them to move?"

"Let me try," I said then turned to the man who'd previously been rubbing cheeks with me. "Give me a boost to your shoulders...darl?"

"Of course, my darling! Whatever you wish!" He let me clamber onto his shoulders and I stood, cupping my hands around my mouth.

"We are overjoyed to have returned to you! Let us show our love with our generosity. Let's head to the taverns!"

"Hurrah!!!"

~

"Didn't think they'd go so easily," Meliodas said as we snuck down an alley bent over.

"Yeah but they probably could have done so quieter," I grumbled. We'd paraded into town with all the fanfare of royalty and had to sneak off before they reached the knights milling about inside.

"Oh well, at least you got us through the gate," Gowther reassured me.

The courtyards were full of knights on high alert. We stuck close to a half built wall and paused. A knight was addressing his comrades, most likely telling them to man the gate or patrol the streets.

"We can't just start recklessly battling in the city," Gowther pointed out.

"Man, I was really looking forward to knocking some heads together," Ban said.

"With all these Holy Knights around, trying to find Elizabeth could be a real pain in the ass," Meliodas said.

"You think we should head to the castle?" asked Ban. "Who knows, it might be like one of those fairytales where the princess is locked up in an underground dungeon."

"Don't you mean at the top of a tower?" questioned Gowther.

The castle looked the exact same as when I'd been a Holy Knight here. My mouth went dry at the memories that flash and I tucked my shaking hands into my armpits. But it wasn't fear that struck – anger bloomed, tingling from head to toe. I'd make them pay for what they did to me, Hendrickson especially. Then Guila, Jericho and that stupid idiot Helbram. Then Leraj, no matter what he did for me. Sparks danced and I pinched myself to fan the anger out. Would not do to reveal our hiding spot. I refocused on the conversation.

"Maybe someone should stay close to the gates for Diane and King," Gowther said.

"I'm not staying," Ban said quickly, avoiding eye-contact.

"And I'm going to save Elizabeth and get my sword hilt back," Meliodas added.

All eyes turned to me and I groaned. "Why do I have to be the one?"

Meliodas said, "There's no one I would rather trust to be alongside Diane and King's side when they get here."

"I know what you're trying to do...and it's half working."

"Plus," he said, taking me by the arm and dropping his voice to a whisper, "I want you to find Leraj."

Disdain had me scowling. "Why?"

"Because he's your ally and we might need his help in the final fight. He's helped you this far, he's probably waiting for you to find him."

"He's not..." I puffed out my cheeks. "Just because he helped me once doesn't mean I want his help again." Meliodas gave me puppy eyes. "Puppy eyes don't work on a fox," I hissed.

"Please, Estra. We're going to need everyone soon. His knowledge on Liones will be invaluable."

I seethed quietly for a minute. "Fine then. You better not have too much fun without me. Go. Save Elizabeth and Hawk. Tell them I said hi." They slunk away.

All on my lonesome, I drifted away from the wall and into the shadows of the buildings.