So I'm thinking about the First Holy War era again. Specifically about the holy war square (as I like to call them - Meliodas, Elizabeth, Gloxinia, Drole). And even more specifically, the time after Gloxinia and Drole turn to the demons' side.
And. Just- We really, really didn't get to learn enough about this era. Especially what happened after what King and Diane saw in their trials. Like, we know that Gowther ended the war - presumably shortly after his escape. But we also know that Gloxinia and Drole fought on the demons' side before that happened. They talk about it themselves - Drole accepted Zeldris offer (die or join the 10C) and Gloxinia was consumed by rage and grief after what happened with Rou and Gerheade and directed it at the humans and Stigma, and ended up fighting as a member of the 10C before he even realized it. Which does hint at at least some time passing.
And we also know that Meliodas was unconscious when the war ended, meaning the confrontation with the SD and DK, and with it also Meliodas and Elizabeth's deaths/curse happened before the end. There's also the aspect of power balance that is not addressed here - how does Stigma losing Gloxinia and Drole, literal kings of their races, affect the war? Also, how does Rou and the humans' attack on the Light of Grace - and the devastating loss of it - affect Stigma and the War?
Anyway. I don't really know what I wanna say with this except that I really, really wish we had gotten more of this era. Like actual memories and not just King and Diane experiences someone else's memories. I would have LOVED getting to see actual Gloxinia and Drole interact with holy war Melizabeth. Or any version of Melizabeth actually.
Which also bring me to another point. More trauma for Meliodas. I've touched upon this a little before. About how horrible it must have been for Meliodas to wake up in a world he didn't recognize (a Britannia post war), with Elizabeth dead and all of his friends and family (probably anyone he had a connection too - except Gerheade but we don't know if they interacted any after the end of the war) gone, and also finding out he's stopped aging. But there is another thing we never really talk about:
Gloxinia and Drole's betrayal.
This is another thing that is just brushed over in canon. Partly, it may be due to how close to the end of the war it happens. Again, we never really get to see that part of the war. But another interesting thing to think about - and one that may also affect how little we see of it - is Meliodas' point of view here. It's interesting to think about whether or not Meliodas sees it as betrayal. Because, yes, of course, it is betrayal. And Meliodas surely sees it as that - for Stigma. But what about the personal hurt you would experience when your friends - and I do love how canon establishes that yes, these four powerful people, all from different races were friends. This is also not something we get to see as much in canon as I wish. Because when we see these four in Stigma, it isn't really these four, it's shown through King (and Diane's) perspective.
Me and @lovelyluce talked a bit about it before. About how opposed Meliodas is towards emotional pain. He can much easier deal with physical pain, oftentimes even accepting it from the people he loves and cares about (like Cain and Ban in season one, and King in season 2). He can deal with violent rejection. But as we also see with Ban and King, and there attempts at apologizing and Meliodas' reactions to them, he doesn't deal well with the emotional pain.
It's an interesting aspect of his personality in this context. Because while we get Gloxinia (and Drole) addressing it as such, Meliodas talks about their betrayal a lot more... rationalizing. Because he understands why.
I also love his "once you switch sides, it's all over" line. Because it feels like it's not only about Gloxinia and Drole. It's about Meliodas himself. He doesn't only understand their reasons why, but he understands the decision - because he made one himself. And the "once you switch sides" thing is probably something he's had to use himself, for himself. He made the decision to leave the Demon Realm, to go with Elizabeth, to join Stigma - and EVERYTHING changed. His family. His friends and comrades. The people he fought and bled with. They're all now his enemies.
Now we know that that isn't all there is - it's not a choice that can never be undone, or, well, not exactly. Because Gloxinia and Drole switches sides again later on. And while it doesn't undo their original choice or everything that happened and they did because of it, it does challenge the finality that Meliodas proclaims. But to Meliodas, that finality was probably necessary (and Meliodas sticks to it. He doesn't switch sides again. Not... exactly. Not when he has his emotions to dictate his actions. And his choice was never actually for or against the demons, but more accurately for or against the DK). Because how else would he go about fighting and killing his own kin? If he'd gone into the battlefield with doubts, there would have been a higher risk of loss. (But at the same time. We do see that... conflict, the uncertainty to the finality. And the wish for all to survive - the way he wants to negotiate with the 10C, the way he helps Elizabeth save Derieri and Monspeet, the way he talks to Calmadios before attacking).
I- Well, this turned into something a lot longer and analyzing than I first intended. But I do have a lot of thoughts about this foursome. And a lot of wishes. I want to know more about them and their friendship - beginning, end, and the in-between.
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