#hendi

AU where Meliodas is actually evil in a sense and wanted the DKs throne for himself bc the DK is shitty and also power. He really just wanted to kick the DKs ass and then Ludociels ass for obvious reasons.

In this AU, Elizabeth is also evil in a sense, knowing of her mothers brainwashing and manipulation of the entire goddess race. She also wants her mothers throne for power, to stop the endless fighing that she was, quite frankly, getting tired of. And also lowkey to kick Ludos ass.

The two form an alliance and a promise, to help each other reach their goal. In the end, they do both want to end the war, because of the bloodshed and also bc it's getting boring. It's always the same.

The fact that Meliodas is cursed with eternal life comes awfully convenent to Mel, bc he can train to his hearts content while also working on a solution to break the curse on Elizabeth. Eternal reincarnation isn't exactly great for gathering power to kill gods.

How Mel and Eli come together with Mel ending up switching sides, is basically one going "why are even fighting, this war has literally no purpose" and the other going "word" and boom, friendship. Eli has the idea that they could beat the DKs ass much quicker if Mel came to Stigma, to which he agrees. The other way around doesn't really work because no demon would ever trust a goddess. The other races don't trust Mel either for the most part, excluding Drole, Glox and Rou, but Ludo is such an ass that he will still take Mel and the strength that comes with him. Mel and Eli really gotta restrain themselves from ripping Ludo to shreds on a daily basis.

The fight where Mel and Eli die the first time is their first attempt at killing the DK and SD. It goes horribly of course, and this one follows canon.

Three thousand years later, Meliodas is Danafors great holy knight, and he reads up on curses, seals and demonic spells. With all possible teachers gone, and him not really having an affinity for magic (and not wanting to ask Merlin), he's trying to teach himself via books. Someone notes the large collection of demon-themed books and accuses him of being a demon worshipper. Cue a frustrated and angry Mel and your dialogue: “WHY WOULD I WANT TO RELEASE THE DEMONS!? IM THE ONE WHO HELPED PUT THEM IN THERE!!!” Which comes to a shock to everyone. The words spread, but are reduced to rumors. After all, their kind-hearted great holy knight who is definitely not over 3000 years old couldn't possibly have done such a thing, right?

Anyway, the great tragedy happens, but Meliodas has enough of a mind to finish Fraudrin off. He gathers the pieces for the coffin of eternal darkness and hides them away all over Britannia, to make that A) no one finds them before him and B) should the time for peace come, he can release the demons himself. Most of them were still just pawns of the DKs and SDs sick game, and they deserved to live their lives. Plus, he still misses Zeldris, who was also sealed. He's aware that the DK is in purgatory though.

Mel grieves the death of his friend, Elizabeth, who had grown dear to him over the years and takes her reincarnation to Liones. It was the closest kingdom where he could take care of her. Once in Liones, Meliodas begins amassing books of demons anew, since he couldn't salvage any of them from Danafor, sadly. Zaratras, as well as other close to Meliodas, note the growing collection. They don't accuse him of being a demon worshipper though, so Mel can talk himself out of it by it just being curiosity. Zaratras is still suspicious.

Mel regularly sneaks away to practice the demonic spells. He struggles with some of them, because he has to get them just right if her wants to have any hope of actually going against his father. Zaratras knows he sneaks away, but lets him be since he doesn't want to intrude on a teenagers privacy and possibly loose his trust.

Instead, it's Hendrickson and Dreyfus who follow Mel, who both got curious about demons themselves. After all, what isn't fascinating about a race long gone? It really is just curiousity, no ulterior motives or anything. Shortly after, the corpse of the red demon in the burnt down fairy kings forest is discovered. Hendi and Dreyfus see the effects of ingesting its remains and figure "well shit, sweet little Mel has ingested demon blood". From then on, they're onto him like hawks. Mel is part demon himself now (is what they think) and they want to know how that affects his behaviour. Mel knows they're watching him, but has no idea why. Zaratras is none the wiser about anything, and Hendi and Dreyfus can't just tell Zara bc they have no proof. Plus, Zara has taken a liking to the blonde, which makes it even harder to accuse him of something as outrageous as having ingested demon blood.

Eli is still attached to Mel, who, against Baltras wishes, actually trains her in combat! Enough to hold her own at least. He trains her together with Gil, who also absolutely admires him.