"W-we need to leave," I said shakily, standing up. Merlin put a hand on my shoulder and I smacked it off, stunning to the side as I did so. Why did I hit her? "I-if we get out of Britannia now, we... we, uhm, w-we might live. We c-can make it out, we just need to leave right now."

"(Y/N) what's wrong, you're freaking me out..." Diane said, crouching down. I stumbled forward, clutching my head.

"The-they'll kill all of us if we stay," I hiccuped, tears still falling as I turned around and stumbled toward the Boar Sin. I tugged weakly on Merlin's arm, trying to pull her with me. "P-please, Merlin... please I... I can't le-let you guys d-die by their hands too..."

"(Y/N), please calm down," Merlin said, but I couldn't hear her. My mind raced with horrifying possibilities- their deaths already playing in my head as I tugged on her arm, crying quietly. Meli was still frozen solid.

"Merlin, please you have to get out of here!" I cried, clutching her arm harder. "You all need to get out of here! We can't b-beat them! They'll kill all of us!"

"Diane, may I ask why (y/n) is reacting so drastically to the wave of magical energy?" Gowther said, and Diane glanced at him, then worriedly back to me.

"Who's they?" Diane asked- I could tell that I was really starting to freak her out and worry her, "How do you know? (Y/N), what's wrong, please just tell us!"

"They're going to kill all of you if we don't leave now!" I screamed, my voic eescalting suddenly and explosively as I choked on my quick, short, and hicuppy breaths. Tears poured out of my eyes as I clutched onto Merlin, now holding her sleeve. I no longer pulled on it, I just held it- almost as though it were keeping me alive. If I let go they might get her... "Who cares if they kill me? Please just leave so they don't hurt you! Let me save the people I care about for once..."

My last sentence was more of a desperate murmur than anything, my forehead now pressed against Merlin's bicep as I sobbed. I looked up at her, face scrunched up in pain and eyes full of terror.

They would kill them. They were now the most powerful beings in Britannia- and they could probably take it all over in a matter of days. And we couldn't do anything- absolutely nothing. It didn't matter how fast Merlin could cast spells, how strong Diane was, how manipulative Gowther's powers were, that Meli is was of the most powerful demons to ever exist, that Escanor has ridiculous power, even if its only during the day, how quickly King could attack and using his Chastiefol, and how Ban was immortal...

Oh, god, Ban...

Why did he leave...

I started crying harder as is stared up at Merlin, shaking vigorously as thoughts of everyone dying without me being able to save them filled my head. The tiny pinpricks of Ban leaving- you're not good enough, you're not good enough, you're not good enough- walked across the back of my brain in high heels made of nails.

"Please, just... please don't let me lose everyone..." I sobbed, falling to my knees, now clutching Merlin's hand. "I can't do it again... there's been too many, I can't... I can't fucking do it..."

Merlin looked up at Meliodas, who was still frozen solid, his fists clenched tightly as he glared at the floor, his eyes wide. Gowther was staring, his head cocked to the side in confusion as he watched the odd exertion of emotion you were displaying- vaguely wondering where Hawk had wondered off to. Diane didn't know what to do; she wasn't sure how to help you. She wasn't small; she couldn't hold you in her arms and comfort you, she could only press for answers- which clearly wasn't working- until she understood how to make you feel better.

Merlin looked back down at you, sobbing into your upper arms while clutching her hand. She could feel your shaking, almost as though the earthquake from before was still happening. Of course, she had quickly realized that it was no earthquake, and judging by her two comrades reactions, she knew the exact cause of it, as well. Though she would never admit it, she almost wanted to listen to you- leave Britannia and be safe- but she knew she couldn't. Right now all she could do was help you.

Merlin sighed, her eyebrows scrunched together and making the most sympathetic expression she could manage. She touched her hand to your forehead and closed her eyes, mumbling, "Mindspace Witness."

Her eyes opened and she was in a large, black room, although it wasn't like before. It was entirely submerged in the black waters of your feelings. The bubble surrounding your body had completely burst, and you were chained to a pillar under the liquid sadness, screaming for help. Your shouts only came out in air bubbles and invisible tears melted into the grief before they could be seen, and you were constantly choking, moments away from death, but never able to reach it. You tried to break the chains, into to her yourself more. You were trying to free yourself of the improvement you had created, but nothing you did fixed it.

Ten shadows loomed over you- at first Merlin thought they were your emotions, holding you hostage, but she realized that someone else had somehow invaded your mind as well. She walked forward, standing directly in front of you, now under the gaze of the figures as well. Her eyes widened and she inhaled sharply. Images of everyone in the Sins flashed through her head- including herself. They were all bruised and battered, laying on the floor, obviously dead.

All around her, whispers filled her ears- telling her she 'couldn't save them' and that she was 'useless and unwanted'. She stared down at the version of you within your Mindspace- kicking and screaming and sobbing, begging to die or be let free, to be able to do something.

Her entire body was caving in on itself, feeling the internal pain that filled your head. Feelings of guilt, despair, uselessness, anger, and unimaginable fear had crept in and settled in her core.

She understood why you were crying now.

Not because you would die. Not because you felt terrible. Not because you hated yourself. Not because you knew you weren't good enough.

No, these things had been engrave here long ago- never to be removed or erased. Faded, maybe; eroded, possibly- but never fully gone.

You were crying because you were terrified- more terrified than you had ever been. The people who had ruined your life and killed everyone you ever cared about were back, and you knew you couldn't stop them. You couldn't finish what others had started.

You couldn't protect anyone.

So they would all be killed, tortured, and removed without remorse- and you would watch as it all happened for the third time. You wouldn't do anything, once again. Not because you were weak or unable, but because you were scared.

Merlin nearly felt tears well up in her own eyes, and she had to step away from the looming shadows that were towering over you. She let out a quiet sigh, releasing a breath she wasn't aware she had been holding once those thoughts were no longer stuffing themselves into her head.

I can't fix this... she thought, looking around with her lips pursed into a tight line. There's no mending her when she's exposed to all of this.

She sighed, releasing herself from within your Mindspace, opening her eyes the moment after she had closed them. She could've spent one hundred years within your mind, then opened her eyes agains and found herself in the Sinatra after she entered. Mindspaces didn't follow the concept of time.

"(Y/N), I'm sorry... this is the only way to help you."

Merlin pressed her hand more firmly into your forehead and you inhaled raspily, your cries ceasing as your eyes rolled to the back of your head, your last tears falling instantly. Your grip went loose on her hand, and she almost reached out to grasp it again, but stopped herself. She knew better than to show emotions like that.

You went limp, falling onto the floor with a thud.

"Merlin!" Diane exclaimed, staring down at you with wide, worried eyes. "What did you do to her?!"

"Diane," Merlin said simply, waving her hand in the giantess's direction. She shrank down suddenly and abruptly, her clothes morphing into a pink dress with large, white puffs in the place of where buttons might be. Her hair fell down out of pigtails. She squealed in shock, staring down her now small body in both awe and confusion. "Bring (y/n) back to the Boar Hat and let her rest."

"B-but what's wron-"

"Just do it," the Boar Sin snapped, glaring at the girl. Diane nodded quickly, rushing over and picking you up so you were riding on her back. She began to hurry toward the Boar Hat.

Merlin then walked toward Meliodas, who was still staring at the ground. She put a hand on his shoulder and his gaze snapped toward her.

They were quickly teleported to her 'headquarters', per se. Potions, books, and magical items lay scattered about, and the whole area had an ominous, mystical feel to it. Meliodas faltered from his serious stance, looking around to see where he now was. Merlin stared at him, her face stony.

"We need to have a chat."

"There's nothing to talk about," Meliodas said sharply. "You know what's going on."

"Of course I do," Merlin smiled, her signature, condescending grin returning easily to her lips. "I just want to know how bad it is."

"(Y/N)'s reaction was underwhelming considering what they've done to her," Meliodas sighed, looking to the side. This was one of the rare occasions where he was being completely and totally serious. "I... we're all going to have some serious problems with them back. We are Britannia's best defense, and against even one of them..."

There was an uncomfortable pause in the room, the air stiff and hard to breathe. It almost hurt to inhale and disrupt the choking silence. Merlin still smiled, but her brain churned within, and Meliodas was worried. With his current power levels... he didn't stand a chance. And so, you were their only hope. You could probably take them on- put up a really good fight and kill a few of them, but...

You didn't think you could- and they had hurt you so much, you'd probably just run, sobbing.

And honestly, I wouldn't blame her... Meliodas thought sadly.

"What do we need to do?" Merlin asked finally, and the Dragon Sin gave her a questioning stare. "How can we beat them?"

Meliodas paused, "Currently? (Y/N) and Escanor are the only chances we have. You could give them support, but... the rest of us would just get in the way."

"Currently," Merlin repeated.

"Yeah."

"So," Merlin began, "If we were to separate them into individual battles, it would make it much easier. Then we bring King back for distanced attacks, retrieve Escanor, use Gowther for manipulation, have Diane attack alongside (y/n), Escanor, Ban, and you if we restore your previous power, while I provide ranged assistance and stamina and wound recovery, we would stand a chance?"

"Not a big one..." Meliodas said, "But a chance."

Merlin grinned. "Then I say we begin right away."