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The chaos of the start of the season was something almost unmatched. Pearl had found herself drawn into many shenanigans, ending up settling in the Boatem village with Impulse, Scar, Mumbo, and… Grian. Grian, who she had once lost, was now her neighbour, just like back in the old days.
It was nice, the community atmosphere was something she had missed in the years since their last server. But as she was building her starter base, she could help but notice Grian rushing around, as if he was preparing for something big. It wasn’t until she saw him throw an eye of ender that she realised what he was doing.
He was going to the End.
An instinctive fear bubbled up in her chest, the memories of the last time she saw Grian going to fight the Ender Dragon being dragged to the front of her mind. Taking a deep breath, she has to try and reassure herself that it's fine, that the watchers aren’t here, they can’t take him.
It didn’t stop the fear, but it receded into a small bubble in the corner of her mind, anxiety keeping her on edge until a deafening ring sounded around the server.
The End portal was open.
The anxiety that had been hiding in her mind struck her full force. She ran outside her starter base, rushing to get to Grian’s base. It wasn’t far before she sank back against the swirling nether portal, the cool stone refreshing as she trained her eyes on where Grian would come back. Because he had to come back, right?
Fiddling with her communicating, she held back a giggle at the other hermits' reactions, even the normally calm Xisuma startled by the sudden noise. She took a deep breath, calming a little from the distraction. It would be fine. Grian would come back.
She sat there for what seemed like hours, memories of Evo slowly filling her mind. The terror hit her in full when she finally checked her communicator.
Grian has reached the goal [The Next Generation]
He had defeated the dragon. Why wasn't he back? He should be back now, right? Pearl looked up at the place she thought Grian would spawn to see it hauntingly empty.
Burying her head in her hands she fervently prayed that he’d just spawned elsewhere, that her worst nightmare hadn’t come true. Wrapped up in her own thoughts, she didn’t notice Impulse approaching her.
“Pearl?” Impulse’s voice startled her, jolting up to see him standing nearby.
“H-hey Impulse.” She shakily said, trying to dispel the anxiety within her.
“You ok? You’ve been sitting here for a while?”
His concerned tone made Pearl wilt. She sighed, really not wanting to explain
“I’m waiting for Grian to get back.” She offered, hoping Impulse would take it at face value. He didn’t buy it.
“If you were really just waiting for Grian you would have done something in the meantime. What’s really up?” She couldn’t get anything past him, could she?
“I’m waiting for Grian to get back because I’m scared I’ll lose him again.” The words tumbled from her lips unwittingly, the secret she kept close falling from her within seconds.
Impulse was confused.
“Lose him… again?”
Pearl sighed again, wishing for Grian to be back already, to rid her of this crippling fear.
“Last time Grian and I were on a server together, when we went to fight the Ender Dragon, he never returned. He just disappeared for months and then we found out he’s here and safe and now I’m finally on a server with him again but then he went to the End and it just… brought up those memories I wanted to forget.”
A brief look of shock crossed Impulse’s face before it softened.
“Do you want me to go get him? I’m sure he’s just making his way back, he probably set his spawn near the portal after all.”
“I- yes please.”
Impulse typed something on his communicator, before sitting next to Pearl, the two settling in comfortable silence as they waited for Grian to get back.
ImpulseSV whispered to Grian: When do you think you can get back? Pearl’s scared because of something that happened on your old server.
Grian whispered to ImpulseSV: I’m on my way back, can you stay with her?
ImpulseSV whispered to Grian: I will, just hurry back ok?
Grian whispered to ImpulseSV: ok
The sun was just beginning to set when Grian appeared on the horizon. Impulse nudged Pearl, who stood quickly as she saw him.
“Grian! You came back!” Relief filled her voice. He was back, he was safe.
“Of course I am! Don’t worry Pearl. I’m not going anywhere any time soon.” He reassured her, drawing Pearl into a soft hug.
“Please don’t. I could barely take it the first time.” Tears began to slip down her face, the events of the day catching up to her.
Impulse and Grian shared a look, silent communication shared between them before they started moving. Impulse ran ahead as Grian began to guide Pearl towards Impulse’s starter house, as it was the only complete one between them. The little cottage was warm and welcoming, and Impulse had set up three beds in it, one for each of them. Quietly detaching herself from Grian, Pearl sunk into the soft sheets of one of the beds, eyes fluttering shut from exhaustion.
“I’ll still be here in the morning, Pearl. I promise.” As soon as Grian said those words, she fell into a dreamless sleep, content in the knowledge that the Watchers wouldn’t take her family again.