Chapter Text
𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨
The Champions of the Pantheon had an unreasonably peaceful past few days. That changed as they all turned their heads towards the arena. One at a time, the twelve Champions were pulled from the tasks that they had previously been doing, and (not so gently) teleported to the stands of the arena.
“Well, I guess it’s arena time” Pearl’s bored voice sounded slightly annoyed. She was a little disappointed by the timing, as she had just been getting some deepslate.
The Feather Holders seemed to flock toward her, the group proceeding to whisper and plan their strategy for the vote.
The rest of the Champions separated themselves into their groups, waiting for the voting to begin.
Only,
It never did.
More than ten minutes passed without the tell-tale whisper of their votes being cast. Confusion and anticipation seemed to take hold of most of the Champions. Quiet mumbling could be heard. Although, no one could seem to figure out what was going on.
“Am I the only one who hasn’t gotten the vote yet?” Drift’s voice cut through the group that had now fallen into awkward silence.
A couple of shaking heads confirmed the fact.
“Maybe the gods forgot about us?” Nobody’s voice seemed to hold hope, impatience, and overall, just plain confusion.
No one pointed out how stupid Nobody’s theory seemed to be, each having their own thoughts, either just as crazy, if not crazier.
The groups started to strike up conversations and arguments, not knowing what else to do.
𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨
The Champions all turned to see what had happened, only to realize that there was something off.
There was a person.
On the arena floor.
<>
The Champions stared at the individual on the floor.
He looked slightly dazed, shaking his head before seemingly taking in his surroundings.
He suddenly grabbed at his back.
For half a second, genuine terror flashed across his face.
Then it was gone.
He straightened, forcing his expression into something almost neutral.
Noticing the stares from the Champions, he quickly got up, brushed himself off.
“Heh, sorry about that, do any of you know where I am? I seemed to have misplaced myself.”
His voice seemed way too calm for the situation he was in, even calmer than when the Champions themselves first arrived.
That startled some of them.
𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨
The man jumped and stepped back at the unexpected noise.
Then, a voice cut through the arena like thunder, although it sounded more like multiple voices than one.
“Greetings Champions of the gods. We are the Watchers. We have come to have our Champion participate in these… festivities.”
The man seemed to tense when he heard this, finally looking down at the robe that he was in. It was light purple layered with a darker shade. He ever so slightly shuddered.
The echo of the Watchers’ voices finally dissipated, leaving the entirety of the people in the arena in silence.
The one called Nobody slipped out quietly.
The individual on the floor of the arena was suddenly thrust into the stands above him, catching himself against one of the seats.
The Champions cautiously approached him.
“Who are you?” Drift’s curious but wary voice cut through the tension like a knife to butter.
The man, now stable, looked up at his unexpected audience.
“I could ask the same for you.”
Scott gave a huff.
“Just answer the question please,”
The man stared at him for a second too long before responding.
“The name’s Grian. Now, can I know where I am now?”
<>
The questions came slowly at first, then things… shifted.
“Where did you come from?”
“Home.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Well that’s not your problem.”
“Gosh, you're insufferable.”
“Thank you, I try.”
“That’s not a compliment.”
“Well I take it as one.”
“Why are you here?”
“Dunno.”
“Again, not an answer.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Why did the Watchers choose you?”
…
Grian didn’t know how to respond to that one. His shoulder blades shifted slightly, pointing in on themselves.
Apo, realizing he probably wasn’t going to respond, relieved him of the conversation.
“It’s getting late, who is he going to stay with?”
The Champions turned their attention off of Grian and onto their new task. Grian let out a breath.
<>
The Feather Holders had agreed to host Grian for the night.
“So… how long til’ we get there?”
“It’s just over the hill.”
The man, Sausage, bounced slightly up the hill. Grian followed suit.
Pearl rolled her eyes at the two’s shenanigans, but her lips twitched slightly.
Grian got to the top of the hill and gasped.
“Whoa…”
Beyond the hill, a majestic bridge soared over the lake. A large, beautifully decorated cage dangled beneath it.
“This is where you guys live!?”
Grian’s screech of awe was interrupted by snickering. He turned back, glaring at whoever it was.
After everyone had calmed down, they headed down the hill towards one of the two towers of the bridge.
As the group approached the tower, Pearl seemed to hear something. Turning slightly, she saw that Grian had stopped, staring wide-eyed at the tower. Pearl’s lips twitched at that.
“You coming, Grian?”
Said man looked confused for a second, his brain catching up to what she said. Then, after shaking his head slightly violently, he continued on his way towards the door.
<>
The rest of the night was calmer than Grian expected.
Pearl had given him a bed to sleep on, brushing past the fact that she had an outrageous amount of wool in her storage. Grian didn’t seem to mind her weird habits, taking the bed with thanks.
Sausage had made dinner. It wasn’t a feast, but it was just as good. There was freshly cooked game on the table that Apo had apparently caught an hour or so before. The Feather Holders and their guest ate in comfortable silence.
After dinner, Apo retired to her bed, which happened to be in the massive cage under the bridge. Grian was mildly surprised, but didn’t question it.
Owen followed suit a while later. Pearl said she had to go check something and seemed to disappear into the night.
That only left Sausage and Grian.
They sat in a slightly awkward silence.
“Grian?”
“Hmm?”
Grian looked at the man, his shoulders slightly tense, and waited for him to continue.
Sausage looked nervous.
“Uh…”
Sausage swallowed.
“What’s your favorite color?”
Grian stared at him for a second.
Then burst out laughing.
Sausage looked confused for a second, but then his shoulders started shaking with giggles.
Grian looked up at the man, tears at the edges of his eyes from laughing.
“What was that question??”
Sausage looked slightly embarrassed.
“I was nervous.”
That made Grian curl into a giggling ball of laughter.
Sausage smiled, the tension gone.
Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all.