"Alright, y'all, up and at 'em!" I shouted, smashing an empty liquor battle. "C'mon, we don't have all day, let's go, let's go!"

Jericho awoke with a start, grumbling under her breath as she glared at me. I winked at her as she sat up, stretching out her arms so that a few pops echoed from her body. Elaine blinked a few times, groaning quietly as she sat up, rubbing her eyes. Ban grumbled from next to her and didn't move. Escanor walked into the cave, hurriedly standing next to me. He had been bringing ale barrels to the cart, and I had helped him, because, let's face it, it would have taken a few hours in his normal form to move all of them.

"I have the cart set up. We best get going now... the festival people were very specific about when we should be there..." He said, talking mainly to everyone else in the room. When everybody didn't move, I rolled my eyes.

"Do I gotta carry your asses?" I said loudly, grabbing a couple extra barrels of ale for me and tossing them into the cart. It never hurts to have extra alcohol.

"I'm coming!" Elaine said, yawning as she stood up. She floated lazily over to the cart, but stopped when she was right next to me. I thought she was going to say something, or just like smile, I don't know. Instead, she just stood there, eyes wide as she looked behind me.

Ban and Jericho both stood up as well, and looked toward me. However, their vision was quickly diverted behind me, where Elaine was looking. Escanor had looked behind me as well, exclaiming in shock. I raised an eyebrow, lazily turning on my heel to look behind me. My eyes widened in surprise. Elaine and I spoke at the same time.

"King?"

"Brother?"

I couldn't stop my mind from screaming in jealousy. I know that he's her actual brother, but the fact that she seemed to have just as strong of a bond as I did with him after being dead for a few thousand years made my blood boil. I had spent a long time getting as close as I am with King. It made me so angry that she could just come out of nowhere and be more important than I am.

His eyes were focused on Elaine, his hair disheveled and expression one of exhaustion. He dropped down from his hovering position and slowly started walking toward her. I frowned bitterly, glaring off to the side. He didn't even so much as look at me.

She really is just replacing me, isn't she?

I gave him a few seconds to redeem himself, but when he just stared at her, I decided it would be better if I just walked out of the cave. I really didn't want to have to deal with a sappy reunion. Wow, that sounds terrible. You know what, who cares? She doesn't deserve any unwarranted kindness from me. She has no right to my acceptance. I'm allowed to be mad at her for taking that away from me.

But she's shown nothing but kindness to me.

I groaned loudly, kicking a rock as hard as I could when I got outside. It went flying, soaring through the air at seemingly unachievable speeds. I stared at it as it flew away, tears welling up in my eyes. I whimpered, crouching down and glaring at the floor in frustration. I hate feelings.

I really wasn't having a good time right now. The only reason that King was here was because of Elaine, I knew that as soon as I saw him. Just like it was the only reason Ban was here. I hated that I was stuck on the sidelines of a story that seemed to revolve around her. King and Ban... they play the same roles in her life as they do in mine. Except it's real for her. All King and I are is friends, and Ban and I... I don't even know.

"Miss (y/n)..?" Escanor's voice sounded from behind me.

Great.

"Escy, I'm really not in the mood right now."

He came over and sat down next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. He smiled, "I know you aren't. That's why I'm not here to talk, only for you to listen."

I stayed silent, looking in the opposite direction of him in embarrassment. The last thing I wanted was for the Sin of Pride to see me cry over something so petty.

"That girl, Elaine, I know it may seem like everything is about her right now," I chuckled wryly at the comment, "But I assure you, Mr. King and Mr. Ban still feel the same about you as they did before. You are still just as important to both of them. She has come and gone, but you have always been here.

"It is a blessing for them to have her back right now, but she could never replace you. You and I have never been very close, but I know that losing you would hurt them both lot more than losing her would. Just as it would for me and everybody else on the team," he squeezed my shoulder. "No matter how bad it seems, you will always be more important than you realize."

He grinned widely, making me look up at him. "And even if they are fawning over her, Ms. Jericho and I will always be here to drink and have fun with you. Okay?"

It took a moment fro me to full absorb all of that. As much as I tried to hold it in, I laughed, wiping my tears and smiling at him. "For the Sin of Pride, you sure do give good pep talks."

He laughed bashfully, rubbing the back of his neck. After that, we both stood and got everyone to the cart. It took awhile, but everyone got situated. As soon as everyone was ready, we took off. Escanor drove the first shift while I slept, and we traded off.

It was an uneventful trip, to say the most. King an Ban didn't even look at me throughout the whole, two day trip. I drank all six barrels of ale I had brought within the first few hours, and I didn't even get so much as a buzz. Jericho and I pretty much just sat while everyone else hung out. It was almost degrading, how they ignored us. I was thankful when we arrived at the festival, even though it wasn't really what I had expected. It was late afternoon when we got there, so Escanor was coming out of his powerful form and into his normal one. We stood at the entrance of a giant maze that seemed to have just popped out of the ground. I knew that if this was being built, or was just here, I would know about it.

"So this is it?" I asked, poking my head in the entrance and looking around. It had a completely straight path, and one that immediately turned left, just after the entrance let you through.

"Mhm," Escanor said, "Although I'm starting to think alcohol provisions isn't the reason I was invited..."

"Oh, more booze for me, then," I said, my voice so unexciting you'd think I was some sort of stoic. I turned around and faced everyone, finding Jericho now standing just behind me.

"I guess there's nothing to do but go in," Jericho shrugged, and I started walking with her.

"Wait, guys, we don't know what's in there!" King protested and I glared back at him.

"I'm sorry, King, are we worried about our little princess? Well I'm sure she'll be okay with you and Ban protecting her," I spat, turning and looking directly at the Fox Sin. "Unless you need me to save your ass again."

I turned on my heel, walking into the maze angrily. Why did I say that? His dead sister just came back. How insensitive am I, haha... I got about thirty or forty feet in before turning around and spreading my arms in a 'see?' gesture. My sarcasm quickly disappeared when a giant wall shot out from a nearby barrier, closing me off from the others.

I heard King, Jericho, Elaine, and Escanor from the other side, "(Y/N)!"

"Don't sweat it!" I shouted back in defeat. Karma's a bitch. "I'll meet you guys in the middle!"

I waited a few minutes, but I didn't hear a response from the other side. I guess I deserve that. I frowned, letting out a sigh as I turned around, wandering through the winding halls of the maze.

Alone.

That's what it always comes down to, isn't it? Me. Alone.

I hugged myself, pursing my lips to keep my bottom lip from quivering. I squeezed my eyes shut as hard as I could as I walked, moving on autopilot. God, I hated crying.

I really thought that maybe I would take precedent, you know? I've been here for so long, when she hasn't. I've helped King and Ban and all of the Sins through everything, just like they have fro me. I don't understand why I don't. Like, at all.

I guess the real question is, why don't I get to have one thing? Or... one person, I guess...

I don't get to have the Sins. Elaine has to come in and take Ban and King. Elizabeth occupies Meli's time constantly. Escanor just got here, Merlin is always busy with something. Diane is around, I guess, but she's either focused on Meli or King all the time. I just hate Gowther.

I don't have anybody now that Elaine's here, now that I think about it. The Sins are all I've got, and they've all got something other than me. It really hurts to be the only one who's so reliant on others, when they could probably care less about you.

A loud roar issued from in front of me. I looked up- it was a big crocodile-like creature that came out of the sand. It was a huge, seemingly blind creature. It was entirely unimpressive. I didn't even flinch when it bared its fangs and growled at me.

I blinked, and the whole thing was set ablaze. It roared out in agony, writhing around and slamming into the nearby walls, stumbling around as it attempted feebly to put out the flames. I kept walking, lowering my head as it dove over me, slamming into the wall headfirst. It fell limp, slowly turning to ash as I walked forward, still hugging myself. I turned a corner.

I wonder if any of them are worried about me right now. They know I'm trapped over here by myself, locked in this maze on my own. I can handle myself, of course, but...

Sometimes it's nice to know that people care.

I'm just being stupid, I know. I just... I don't feel like anyone really cares, y'know? I think they just assume I can handle myself and write it off as me not needing anyone. Well, I don't need anyone, I just...

"Ughhh!" I groaned loudly, punching the wall next to me. Tears pricked at the corner of my eye. "Stupid!"

The walls shook, and the huge hole I had made repaired itself almost instantly. I groaned out in frustration again, grabbing my head. Tears started to fall freely.

I'm just so... upset.

I walked through that whole maze wiping away my tears and trying to calm myself down. I found myself in the middle before I even registered that I had been going through the maze at all. There were several people around, most notably the Sins. I didn't recognize any of the other people who stood at the various entrances into the center.

I found it terribly comedic how I was the only one standing at an entrance on my own.

"(Y/N)!" I heard a voice shout. I turned to the side, finding Elizabeth and Hawk running toward me. When she finally reached me she was panting, but still beaming all the same. Hawk headbutted me in the leg.

"You idiot, I haven't seen you in forever!" He shouted, grinning widely.

"Missed you too," I smiled sarcastically. Elizabeth was looking at me strangely. I gave her a sad smile. She frowned, jumping into my arms. I stumbled back, "Woah!"

"It was awful not having you around," She mumbled into my shoulder. I chuckled quietly, hugging her back.

"Don't go boosting my ego, now."

Our heartfelt moment- which I really needed right now, by the way- was cut short by a loud announcement.

"Ladies and gentlemen of all races and species! Welcome to the biggest waste of ti- I mean, the Fighting Festival!"

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