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He shot the arrow, and time seemed to stop. He screwed his eyes shut, not wanting to see what happened.
But the sudden roar of the arena only made him confused.
"Grian! You did it!" cheers were heard from his teammates, and his confusion only increased.
He slowly opened one eye, and he gasped. Zuez was no longer there; he had exploded into a pink puff of smoke.
He...he won. He won..! HE WON!
"I...I did it..!" he breathed, running a hand through his damp, chestnut-brown hair, a smile slowly making its way on his face. "I did it!"
"I'm so proud of you, Gri!" he could hear False say joyously through his earpiece, and for the first time,
he felt the adrenaline and pride of a first-time winner.
"I told you; anytime he had the guts to do it, was now." Grian could hear SB's pride radiate in his voice.
Countless praises and congratulations' echoed from Grian's team.
But Pete was quiet, feeling his heart warm, as he gazed at the empty Dodgebolt arena, seeing Grian spread out his purple wings in joy.
He was proud of him, too. He just didn't know how to express it.
"I'm gonna have to get going," False slid her communicator back in her pocket, and she shot Grian an apologetic look. Grian nodded.
"Oh, alright! I'll see you tomorrow then, False?"
"I guess so." she gave her friend a quick hug, and Grian smiled.
"Bye, False!"
She waved, before walking down the path, towards the border of the MCC lobby.
Grian sighed, adjusting the crown on top of his head.
"Tiring day, huh?"
"Ah!-" Grian jumped, whipping his head around, yet he let his guard down when he saw who it was.
"Gods, Pete! You gave me a heart attack!" he exclaimed, the slime-hybrid laughing to himself.
"What? As if you weren't gonna have one during Dodgebolt!" he smiled, and Grian chuckled lightly, still feeling the adrenaline and anxiety only 20 minutes ago.
"Why again? Why me?" he whispered, his grip growing stronger on his bow.
"They left you for last because they think you're weak. They're underestimating you!" SB said through his earpiece. Grian took in a breath, trying to calm his nerves.
"Take your time, let them dodge." Pete advised, and Grian aimed his bow at Illumina, closing his eyes.
His arms were shaking, and he took in another breath, yet it didn't work very well.
"Yeah, yeah, that's true," Grian ran a hand through his chestnut-brown hair, "I feel like I'm still gonna pass out, actually."
"Wa- what are you doing here then?"
"Just wanted to spend a few more calming moments here before I head back home," Grian laughed lowly, thinking of what Scar and Mumbo were going to say to him when he got back to Hermitcraft, "they're gonna throw a party, apparently."
"That's nice," Pete smiled softly, yet he raised an eyebrow in confusion, "what're you gonna do here then, for the remaining..."
He looked at the Decision Dome, before back to his teammate,
"...ten minutes?"
"Well, I just wanted to spend time with you since..." Grian's voice trailed off, he didn't know how to say his next words.
Since, well, I think this is the last time we'll be together.
"Aww, how flattering," Pete teased, grabbing Grian's hand, "well, let's go!"
"Wait- where?"
"Just come on!"
"I just want to say...before what happens, happens..." Grian said quietly, and Pete couldn't help but smile small at his next words,
"...It's been a blast...it's been a real blast." the Hermit said, before letting go of the arrow, hitting Illumina in the chest, eliminating him.
"Let's go, Grian!" False exclaimed.
Grian laughed, looking up at the stars, his shoulders barely brushing with Pete's.
"It's been fun, Pete."
"I'm...I'm happy I teamed with you, Grian." he said softly.
"Me too...me too."
The slime-hybrid paused, before saying something else.
“Are you not gonna put me on the signup sheet anymore, Gri?” Pete asked, sitting next to his teammate on the stage.
“What? You don’t want me to?”
“Well, I mean…” he paused, trying to think of the right words to say, “You've won your first MCC; Scott might think you're good enough to…to…”
He didn’t have to finish his sentence for Grian to know what he meant.
“I feel like I’m gonna cry,” Pete gave Grian a quick hug, “I’m so proud of you.”
He whispered, and Grian couldn’t help but smile. “Y’know…
“I remember saying before the tournament, ‘Oh, we’ll carry Pete on our shoulders up until Dodgebolt, then we’ll drop him off and let him run loose’.”
Pete chuckled, pulling away, “Seems that it was the total opposite today.”
SB rolled his eyes, patting Grian’s shoulder, “Totally. And he still doubts himself.”
“Hey!” The winged Hermit swatted his hand away, playfully, “I could’ve done better to help you guys with Buildmart!”
"Oh, I won't curse you with me anymore, Pete," Grian laughed, jokingly, yet the slime-hybrid looked at him, surprised.
“What do you mean? Look where we are..!” he gestured around them, and Grian looked, seeing the Hall of Fame, the stars lighting up the sky, some of the participants laughing and chatting with one another,
and finally, the both of them, the golden crowns atop of their heads.
“I know, it’s…”
Grian took in a breath,
“it’s hard to let go, isn't it?”
“Yeah, just because-” he stopped himself, before saying, “-well, it happened with Vikk and I as well, he wasn’t doing his…best, during that time…”
“Yeah, I’ll probably have a better reaction than you will,” Grian joked, trying to lighten the mood, even if it was just a tiny bit.
Pete sighed, taking off the golden crown on his head, setting it aside.
Grian raised an eyebrow. “Pete? What are y-”
He was cut off by the slime-hybrid giving him a long, tight hug. Grian blinked a few times, before melting into it, wrapping his arms around the other.
“I-…I’m gonna miss you, man,” Pete’s voice was shaky, and for once the Hermit was caught off-guard.
Despite Pete being a kind one, he was never one to show his emotions, or be vulnerable. Grian had noticed this ever since MCC 13; he had a limit.
“I’m…going to miss you too, Pete.”
—•—
“Yeah, I understand, Scott,” Grian said politely, trying to hide his slight sadness.
“I’m sorry I had to split you two up after that; I know how close you two seemed with each other.” Scott said apologetically, Grian noticing he had a clipboard in his hand.
“Mhmm,” he hummed in response, “we were a great team.
“Who’ll I be teamed with, after?”
“I was deciding putting you back with your Hermits, although I know you want to branch out a bit.”
“Yeah…it’ll be fun…” he muttered, blocking out Scott’s words, looking back to the Hall of Fame.
Seeing his certain twin on the leaderboard, he smiled softly.
Maybe everything would be fine…