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~Let’s go in the Garden.~
Xizuma pulled his helmet off, if only to bury his head in his hands. Ex may have been the only other person in the room, but X didn’t want the world to see him like this.
He remembered when he’d first met Grian, the young trickster absolutely covered in glitter. He’d become the soul of the server, the final piece in the puzzle to bring everyone together. Young, loveable scamp.
X pulled out his comm again, hoping against everything that the single yellow line would dissappear.
~You’ll find something waiting.~
Stress gently pushed open Iskall’s bedroom door to find him sobbing once more, that red jumper clutched to his chest. She slowly entered, trying not the spill the mushroom soup, but when their eyes met hers there was nothing to do but set the food down and hold Iskall close, ignoring how wet her shirt would grow from the tears.
To keep herself strong, she locked eyes with the picture on Iskall’s bedroom, of a happier time in a different season where the biggest concerns were potatoes stopping redstone systems. Keeping her gaze locked with a smile she’d burn into her memory.
~Right there where you left it, lying upside down.~
False once again knocked Doc’s sword out of his hand, causing another defeat. He knew this was her way of coping, putting her anger and frustration into something that could prevent these events in the future. He couldn’t blame the once-aeronaut, he was the same. If they’d arrived sooner, been better.
It was no use tossing blame around, nothing could change now. Instead, he rolled his shoulders, raised his sword and charged again.
~When you finally find it, you’ll see how it’s faded~
Ren stood back, offering a half smile to Wels as they looked over the statue.
“I didn’t know him well at all,” Wels started, “but I think this is fitting. Once again, every hermit feeling the same, coming together to cope and honour. He’s united us again hasn’t he?”
“You remember the Civil War? Capture the Flag? He was always so good at finding excuses for everyone to drop base work and have fun.”
“And the best flier”
They both added nothing to that, only staring at the glass wings as they shone in the sun that haloed the statue’s head.
~The underside is lighter when you turn it around.~
“You got the last one?” Tango turned to the rest of the group, recieving thumbs up from BDubs, Impulse and Zed.
“Named them all?”
“Yep.”
“Bubbles, the sun is setting.”
They all turned to face it from Iskall’s now doorless starter base, and Impulse’s hand came to rest on BDubs’ shoulder.
“He used to complain I never let him watch the sun set. I think I’ll leave him this one.”
~Everything stays, right where you left it.~
Cleo and Joe walked almost silently around her base. She’d wanted to show everyone their Zoo exhibits when she was done, but it couldn’t be anymore.
Joe seemed to notice her thoughts, and gently squeezed her hand, and though she was thankful to have such a kind friend, she felt horrible. Iskall and Mumbo, Watcher Mumbo, would never feel the comforting squeeze of their friend’s hand again.
Her vine crown blew away, and she didn’t chase it. It was meaningless now.
~Everything stays, but it still changes.~
Keralis and Etho stood before the mansion, the former wiping sweat from his forehead. They’d spent the day finishing tasks and cleaning up, knowing their friend would have hated an unfinished product.
The portals were complete, the terraforming over. Chickens found, challenges listed, holes patched up. The only thing unfinished was the back of the mansion. It didn’t feel right to complete that.
Not a word passed their lips, only grunts of hard work and silent tears.
~Ever so slightly, daily and nightly.~
Cub, Hypno, Jevin, TFC, Beef and xB were making a slow circuit of the server. They’d barely known their fae friend at all, but still felt the pain as hard as anyone else. The server had been a haven for anyone who needed to run, warm and accepting.
Although the acceptance was still there, the warmth had drained from everyone, and in his age TFC felt a duty. Everyone needed some cocoa right now.
~In little ways.~
The moustache had been returned to Larry, the Hoglins now in a pen in his village, named after people Grian and Mumbo had mentioned.
He’d found Gellie, now that she was an unowned cat, and brought her with him, promising to both himself and Grian that she’d never be alone.
No-one deserved that.
The sound of firing rockets alerted Scar to Mumbo, soaring overhead, probably headed out to the huts again.
He only sighed, and began packing for the trip to Xizuma’s.
~When everything stays.~
Mumbo could feel the tears on his face, but ignored them. He hadn’t thought he’d had any left. The wind blew past, and he knew he’d get windrush, but the pain wouldn’t bother him. He didn’t feel much of anything anymore.
He made it to the huts in record speed, passing the tree he’d planted and entering the huts to recieve his final gift from Thorn. He’d not told the other Hermits. They’d call it unhealthy, tell him he was torturing himself, but he didn’t care.
He pushed his energy into the crystal, the same way Grian had taught him. (The same way Grian had been taken from him) and the illusion flickered to life before him, Grian, curled up on the bed, softly breathing, like he was asleep.
Mumbo pulled his comm out. No-one had used them in ages, the server falling into silence, so the message stood out in yellow.
’Grian’ died from overexertion.