What if in the Protocol we will see the fears working together for some greater plan, contrary to them fighting each other in TMA? I am well aware that we could very much have a very different system of fears here instead of Smirke's 14 BUT HEAR ME OUT
The episode with the guy becoming a tree. Starts off with The Hunt (running away from the cops), becomes the Buried midway (entirely soiled in dirt), ends with the Corruption (the very same fear/love/obsession combo that Jane Prentiss had).
Needles contains both the Stranger and the Desolation aspects (sadistic and unfiltered violence).
Hilltop Charity Centre is big on the Stranger but also the Buried.
The more I think about this the more this makes sense, and even more so the possibility of the fears working together gives me chills.
Think of the potential. What if the Vast decides to pair up with the Web? The Slaughter with the Dark? Even if each individual fears contradict each other on the spectrum, the possibilities are endless for how they could work together. What if in the Protocol we see the lines between fears get blurred and focus on the very definition of what primal fear is? What if, instead of focusing on each individual fear like in MAG, we get to see the whole spectrum without the imaginary margins that separate them? What would the powers, known for endlessly battling each other, suddenly come together for?
Do you understand how bone chilling the idea alone is? What could the Fears be afraid of?
Since TMA I've had this hc that the Fears are somewhat aware that they can die and are afraid of it, making so that the End actually feeds of them and is absurdly powerful, even for their standards.
So my answer is Death, they are afraid of Death.
I don't mean to The End Avatar on main but HELL YES
ME AND THE END BOYS KEEP WINNING