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Leaving Evo behind was the second hardest thing Grian had ever done, second only to leaving Pearl. But the Watchers called and he answered, prepared to take up the burden so that none of his friends would have to. So now he sat alone in the darkness of the Watcher’s home, gazing over the desolate void. His communicator lay forgotten behind him, buzzing quietly as messages from Evo came pouring in, his friends desperate to know he was safe. He couldn’t bring himself to answer, not yet. Because answering would make him confront the truth he was hiding from. That he had left Evo never to return, that his life had changed forever and there was no going back.
That he had broken the promise he made Pearl so long ago.
They were kids, too young to know what the future held, but they had each other and they thought that was all they could ever need. So many days spent pouring over blueprints, exploring their world and all it had to offer, thinking they had forever to just live. Siblings in everything but blood, the sun and the moon lighting the world for each other. He promised her that they would reach infinite heights together, unshakeable by whatever may come their way. He promised her they’d be together for eternity, if not in person then in spirit. He promised her the universe for her to build because she was his precious sister, his moon.
He had promised her all that and more and now it was broken. He had shattered that promise into a million shards when he accepted the Watcher’s call. Now he was here and she was there, and there was no promise to be held between them. How could there be, when Grian was countless light years away, committed to a cause that meant their paths may never meet again? How could he read her messages and answer in good faith when the broken remains of those memories still rested in his mind?
So he left them unanswered, leaving them for future Grian, a Grian who wouldn’t break down at the first hint of sadness from Pearl, a Grian who had borne the waves of grief and was able to confront those feelings, the memories of the world he would never see again.
Until that day came however, he would hide the communicator away, ignore the burgeoning need to call home, reassure his friends that he was alright. Because it wasn’t home, it couldn’t be home, not for him, not anymore.
Home was here, with the Watchers. It was in the long, empty corridors and towering ceilings decorated with end rods, it was the towers of bedrock and obsidian, it was his room with a vaulted ceiling and stained purple windows, looking out onto an endless void. Home was with the masked figures that looked over him, the wisps of flickering magic they coaxed from his hands. That was home.
He couldn’t call the streets of Downtown Evo home anymore. The Empire was left to collapse, the feat of water engineering never to be replicated in the world again. He had left the cobble paths and jumbled buildings behind. Grian wondered what it was like now. Would Pearl finish Downtown Evo for him, would the Property Police still record his base coordinates? Or had they left it all behind. He wouldn’t blame them if they did.
He had left that home behind. He can’t dwell on the painful past when there's a new home ahead of him, no matter how cold it feels. He repeated that mantra throughout his time with the Watchers, ‘This is Home now.’ It never felt right.
He met Mumbo, started interacting with the outside world again, still pointedly ignoring the unread messages that now numbered in the hundreds, if not thousands. The Watchers were kind, giving him space, letting him meet with Mumbo and build and explore. Then Mumbo gave him a letter, the famous wax seal staring mockingly at him.
Hermitcraft. Mumbo’s home server. He… he was invited. He was invited to this place told of in legends across the Servers. The Watchers told him to follow his heart, and although it longed for the comfort of his friends back, he knew that part of the longing was simply to have a server again, to not be isolated from people. He accepted.
Now home was Hermitcraft, the Hermits welcoming him as one of their own. He got to build with blocks he had never used before, explore the world with new friends beside him. It was nice, sating the buried longing for a while. He started prank wars and build-offs, intent on enjoying this new life to the fullest.
He still felt an emptiness. No matter how many nights he spent building Sahara with Mumbo and Iskall, or chatting with the other Hermits, it followed him. It tore at his heart and left him shattered on the ground, the long-ignored communicator taunting him from his enderchest. He never told the Hermits about his past, and none of them pressed. It was a blessing as much as it hurt when he saw their concerned looks after a few too many sleepless nights working on whatever project in a desperate daze.
Before he knew it Season 6 was ending, and the move to Season 7 began. Evo felt further than ever before, the shift in worlds adding another infinite distance between him and his past. So he did what he did best, ignored it and did something else. His first few days were filled with pranks and building, the early season grind occupying his mind in all waking hours. But the memories still haunted his sleep, sepia visions playing over and over in his mind. He would wake shaking, holding back tears as the longing returned full force, and it took everything in him to not grab the communicator.
It was one such morning, the memories hanging over him like a stormy cloud, when Xisuma visited. It was unexpected, and throughout their talk Grian’s gaze kept drifting to his enderchest. He hoped Xisuma didn’t notice.
Luck was not on his side. His eyes slipped one too many times and he was faced with a very concerned admin. Xisuma looked at him with such potent worry and care that he was thrown deep into his memories of Evo, of his friends and sister, that the tears he had been holding for all those years came pouring out. Xisuma drew him into a soft hug, letting him cry out all the fear, all the loneliness and sorrow that had been building inside.
He was there when the tears finally subsided, holding him still, patient in his worry for Grian. Grian realised that he couldn’t bear it anymore, that despite the years the waves of grief still hit hard, and by avoiding the past he would never move towards the future he wanted. So he talked, whispers falling from his lips as he told the admin what he had never said before. The stories of his empire, of Pearl and Jimmy and Martyn and all the others, of the watchers and his decision. And when the story was told, he fell, drained of all energy.
The next hours passed in a daze, Xisuma comforting him gently as he recovered from the sudden outburst of emotion. He slowly slipped back into awareness, flushing with embarrassment when he realised what had happened. Xisuma didn’t mock him like he feared, instead the admin sat with him and asked what he wanted to do now. There was no avoiding his past anymore, there was no need to. Xisuma promised his support, anything he needed.
Hands shaking Grian opened his enderchest, reaching to the very bottom to retrieve the communicator. Xisuma took it from him, and at Grians request he opened the messages. The number made Grian cringe, but Xisuma didn’t seem to care. Instead, the admin just opened the first set he pointed to - Pearl’s messages. Grian couldn’t bear to look as Xisuma scrolled through the backlog, burying his head in his arms. Xisuma reached the newest messages, dated to just yesterday, and turned to Grian, asking if he should draft a message. He agreed hesitantly, still unsure if he was ready but unwilling to leave Pearl unanswered now that the messages had been marked as read.
It took a long time, but eventually a message was drafted, and with trembling fingers Grian pressed send, closing an era of avoidance and self-inflicted sorrow.
[Grian → PearlescentMoon]: Hey Pearl, sorry for how long it took me to answer you. I’m on Hermitcraft now, believe it or not! I miss you. I’m sorry for breaking our promise. I’ll make it up to you someday. There’s so much I want to say, so much I need to explain that I can’t do it over text, but know that you have been on my mind every day since I left. Hopefully we can see each other again soon. Love, Grian.
It didn’t feel like enough. How could he convey nearly two years of sorrow in one message? Xisuma reassured him that what he had just done would pave the way for seeing Pearl again, and being able to make up for everything he’d done.
A weight had been lifted off his chest. He felt lighter, and when he went to hang out with Mumbo the next day he found he could laugh without remorse for the first time since Evo. It felt like the entire server picked up on his joy, the atmosphere lighter than it had been all season as they truly settled into their new world.
That joy only grew what his old communicator, the one now reserved for messaging Pearl only, pinged with a message.
[PearlescentMoon → Grian]: Grian! Thank goodness you’re safe. I was so worried, but that’s in the past now. How are you doing? Is Hermitcraft treating you well? Have you made any new friends? Have you talked to any of the others? Martyn and Netty got married, they have a daughter now! We’ve all managed to move on, so I’m glad you’ve done the same. Jimmy and I are currently on Legacy SMP, though I know that Jimmy might be moving to X-Life, which is Scott and Lizzie’s latest server. I'm sure we’ll be able to find time to catch up soon! Love, Pearl.
The news of his friend's happiness brought a smile to his face. It felt better than he expected to talk to Pearl again, and he cursed himself for not doing it sooner.
The next months continued in a similar way, the two frequently messaging each other as they each continued with their lives. They hadn’t yet managed to set up a time to meet, but the text contact was enough for now.
Then, he was invited to MCC. False, Ren and Iskall had all competed previously, and so when Iskall invited him to be on his team for the 6th Championship he accepted happily. The minute Grian got his team he messaged Pearl, excited to share the news with her.
[Grian → PearlescentMoon]: Got my MCC team today! I’m with Iskall, Scott, and Shelby! It’s a little nerve-wracking but I’m looking forward to it! You’ll cheer me on right?
[PearlescentMoon → Grian]: Yeah! I’ll be sure to send you all of my energy, you’ve got this! Have fun!
He was content with just messaging Pearl, no matter how strong the building urge to see her in person protested that fact. But when disaster struck and Iskall had to drop out of MCC he only had one thought.
He could invite Pearl.
Scott approved it quickly, and the message was sent with giddy impatience.
[Grian → PearlescentMoon]: Hey Pearl Iskall can’t make it so can you join our MCC team? I know it's very short notice but you’re the one I want to play with the most.
[PearlescentMoon → Grian]: Of course! Give me the IP and I'll be right over.
He relayed the message to Scott, before sprinting to the spawn point ready to see Pearl again. Grian bounced in place for a minute, wings fluttering softly behind him in anticipation.
There was the soft, familiar sound of someone joining. He looked up and there was Pearl. Laughter bubbled out of him as he swept her into a tight hug, Pearl reciprocating and holding him close.
“Hi.” He felt breathless, his sister, his moon finally in front of him again.
“I missed you.” Was her answer, a soft smile gracing her face.
“I missed you too. I’m sorry for leaving.” Countless words flew through Grians mind, so many things he wished to say but he didn’t have the time.
The countdown began, shaking the two out of their focus on each other, and Grian grinned, pulling Pearl over to where Scott and Shelby were waiting. There was time for reunions later, they had a championship to try and win. And as they were teleported into the decision dome Grian found himself whispering the vow they had made all those many many years ago.
‘My love for you is infinite. Siblings in all but blood we are bound together for eternity. Behind us we will carve a legacy, the likes of which the universe has never seen. I give myself to you as you give yourself to me and we will never be parted as long as there are stars in the sky. For we are love, and we are courage and we are the celestial bodies high above true and strong, and we will build a monument to this love that will show the world who we really are.’