This has been a loooonnng time coming. XD Thank you all for your patience the past ~3 weeks. <3

Also, CaitlinIsInTheClouds has set up a Mianite fan discord. If y'all want to join us, it's over at https://discord.gg/vXTF6VN.

This one-shot isn't tied to Things Lost and Found. We join our heroes after their second trip through the Void...

*Jordan's POV*

I couldn't remember what my nightmare had been about when I woke, but the amount of adrenaline pumping through my veins and the sweat on my face made me grateful I couldn't. It felt like I had a hangover, and I rubbed my head, wondering if we'd literally fallen out of the sky again. I blinked and looked around, half expecting to wake up in a prison cell like I had in Ruxomar. Stone walls, open door, bed, table, chairs, bookshelf. This doesn't seem that bad. No bars or holes in the ceiling either. "How did I get here?" I asked what I thought was an empty room.

"The Priest found you washed up on the beach," came the reply. I spun my head toward the voice. My vision blurred some at the movement. When it cleared, I froze. An all too familiar figure stood in the corner—a woman with violet hair and eyes. A gold circlet secured a perfectly round amethyst to her forehead, the purple gem standing in stark contrast to skin light from little time spent in the Overworld. Her flowing purple-grey, satin dress brushed her ankles just above the floor, and she radiated an air of authority. She was watching me intently.

I held my breath for a moment, trying to determine which Ianite this was, for certainly, it could be no other. Unease and hope balanced for a moment until I recognized her knowing smile. I was back in Mianite. "My Lady!" I exclaimed, trying to disentangle myself from the bedsheets to kneel. The first time I see her in over ten years, and she's caught me napping!

"Be at ease, my champion. It's good to have you back," She said with a faint hint of humor in her voice. When I stopped fidgeting, I realized I felt tired, though I had been sleeping. That hadn't happened when we went to Ruxomar. It made sense when Ianite explained the shape I'd been in when Dec called her. For a time, they had been worried I would never wake up. Ianite had finally removed the forbidden knowledge causing the problem from my mind. Hence, the massive headache.

Mental note: Next time someone says a type of magic is forbidden, listen to them. That was a close one.

Ianite recaptured my attention by holding a golden apple out to me. "This will help you regain your strength." I took the apple gingerly, remembering a certain farmer who always had apples on him. When I looked back up to thank Ianite, she was gone. I looked around, but there was no sign of her. For a moment, I wondered if I was still insane and had dreamt the whole encounter up. Then again the flawless golden apple was in my hand where she'd left it. Maybe I was really home.

I munched my apple and leaned back against the headboard. I wonder how much time has passed this time. It had taken ten years for us to fall from Mianite to Ruxomar through the Void. Were our alternates still here? I contemplated my apple core while wondering what might have happened in our absence.

"Yo, Sparklez!" I looked up to see Tucker and Sonja standing in my doorway. They looked happy, though Sonja was a bit pale. "You gonna sit in there all day?"

"Yeah, come on. Our friends are worried about us," Sonja said, motioning for me to follow them.

"Ok, ok. I'm coming," I said, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. That apple had helped a lot. Maybe I'll plant it later. I pocketed my apple core and walked with my friends down a stone brick hallway. "So you were affected too?" I asked Sonja.

A haunted look crossed her face at my question, and Tucker answered for her, "Yes. We were really worried there for a few hours. I'm just glad our gods could reverse what that Thaumcraft sh*t did to both of you."

Sonja looked relieved and a tiny bit annoyed with Tucker's answer but didn't say anything. When we reached the courtyard, the whole gang was there: Tom, Mot, Dianite, Wag, Martha, Andor the Mandor, and Devisor Gaines. Declan, Mianite, and Ianite were here too. (There was no sign of the old Dianite, thankfully.)

Tom was the first to notice us. "AYE! There you all are!" He shouted before tackling us in a group hug. We laughed and messed up each other's hair for a minute before Dec cleared his throat to call us to order.

We all snapped to silent attention. It did not do to make the Priest angry. "Thank you. Now that you're all awake, there are some people banging down my door to see you." He sounded both amused and irritated. He nodded toward the entry tunnel where Champwan had stood unnoticed until now.

Champwan grinned under his mask and walked down the tunnel, which I now realized was blocked off by a set of large oak doors that I didn't remember being there before. He lifted the beam being used to bar the doors and opened the right door to reveal Nade and the Modesteps huddled around a pile of TNT; Tony was holding a flint and steel.

They froze when the door opened. After staring at Champ for a few seconds, they quickly put on their "innocent" faces and scooted the TNT behind them. "H-hey there, Champ. How's it hangin?" Josh asked, snatching the flint and steel from his brother and throwing it over his shoulder.

"Nade! Modesteps! What have I told you about using TNT near my home?" Dec asked, glaring daggers at them.

The Dianitees looked like they might bolt, but then Nade spotted Tom in the courtyard. "Tom!" He yelled before barreling past Champ to crush Tom in a hug. "I missed ya, man!"

Tom managed to wriggle out of his grip and give Nade a noogie before releasing him. "Nade! It's been literal ages! Good to see you're keeping those two in line," Tom said with a laugh.

Nade smoothed his hair out with one hand before putting an elbow on Tom's shoulder and looking back to the Modesteps, who stood gaping as if they'd seen a ghost. "See, guys; I told you I wasn't lyin! I knew I saw Dec dragging this undead legend up here. And you doubted me!" Nade scoffed.

"To be fair, we all did," A voice I didn't recognize said. Three more people stepped past the stunned brothers to walk into the courtyard. This seemed to bring the Modesteps back to their senses, and they followed. "So, this is the champion who killed his own god? I thought he'd be more impressive," A man in his late forties said. He was taller than Tucker and possessed of a self-confidence that slightly grated on my nerves. He wore a faded coat that looked as if it once belonged to a blood red military uniform and more utilitarian pants and boots. The man's coat sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, revealing tanned and weathered skin. When my eyes landed on the scars at his wrists I knew this must be Sir Jeriah—Tucker's alternate from Ruxomar, a blood mage.

Tom's indignant retort was drowned out by Martha and Mot rushing to greet the group of three. I smiled at the happy reunion and took note of Alyssa and Spark's appearance for the first time. Alyssa was as tall as Mot and had intricately braided, brown hair hanging to her waist between a pair of leathery wings the same shade of brown. They must be natural like Andor's old wings, I thought, glancing briefly at the young man standing to one side while Mot and Alyssa hugged each other tightly. Returning my attention to the girl, I noticed red tattooed patterns encircling her wrists and biceps, contrasting with her healthy, almond skin. She was wearing light leather armor that someone had cut to allow free movement of her wings and arms. Aside from her unsettling, red irises, she was the perfect image of youthful strength.

Spark, on the other hand, looked the part of the wizened, old man. I had the odd feeling that I was looking at a window into my future as I watched Martha run up to kiss her father on the cheek and hug him carefully. He looked so much like me down to his choice of clothing, but aged an extra fifty or sixty years. What had once been dark hair had given way to grey long ago. A face weathered and wrinkled from decades in the sun had permanent laugh lines etched into it. These deepened as he held his daughter, and a few tears leaked from his blue-green eyes. He must have thought he'd never see her again... He had kept a wiry frame and had calloused hands from rough work, and this despite the cane in his right hand. At first I thought it was dark oak, but when the sun hit it just right, I recognized it as obsidian.

Jeriah grinned fondly seeing his friends reunited with their loved ones before walking over to Andor where he stood looking rather out of place. "Hey, Andor. How's it going?" Strangely, he didn't comment on the glaring absence of Andor's purple wings or the scars visible on his arms.

Jeriah's greeting reached Spark's ears and he looked up from Martha to study his grandson. His smile fell a little at the signs he saw, but he beckoned Andor over to join them. "Come here, Endor," He said with a cheeky grin.

Andor made a face at the old nickname but walked over to hug Spark. "It's good to see you, Grandpa Spark. You don't look a day over fifty," He said. This was apparently another family joke. Martha laughed, and Spark rolled his eyes, grinning good-naturedly.

While they talked, I saw Jeriah grin smugly. However, that smile faded as he looked around the courtyard. Someone he was looking for wasn't here. After quickly exchanging pleasantries with Gaines, he asked, "Not that I'm disappointed to see you all, but where are Marie Rose and Amelia?"

"And where are Ianite, Helgrind, Freya, Alva, and Steve?" Spark added, only now realizing that several people he knew and loved were missing. "Actually why did you come here with our alternates at all? Surely if you're here, there's a way for us to get home. We could have met you there rather than you risking the transit."

Tom, Tucker, Sonja, Wag, and I looked at each other in apprehension. Who was going to tell them? Tom was first to yell, "Not it!"

The rest of us quickly yelled the same thing, and Wag teleported away. Spark, Jeriah, and Alyssa looked at us with confusion and a little concern. No one said anything for a few seconds. Martha took a deep breath as if to steel herself to tell the tale, but tears started gathering in her eyes. Right on cue, Wag teleported back. He looked around, panic on his face. "Where did the other wizards go? The FyreHQ building's gone..." He stopped when he saw Martha on the verge of tears and went into comforting champion/boyfriend mode, sweeping her into a hug and whispering sweet nothings in her ear.

Spark looked like he was about to bean Wag over the head with his cane, but Andor grabbed his hand before he could bring it down. "It's okay, Grandpa; he's her champion."

"Wait, what?" Alyssa asked. "Only gods have champions."

I cleared my throat, looking around at the crowd. "Um, about that..." I started, knowing it wouldn't be right to ask Martha to tell. Wag was busy comforting her. Tom and Tucker would be too flippant telling the story and anger Jeriah and Spark. Sonja knew most of the story, but even so, I was the only one there when Ianite discorporated. This story was mine to tell, for better or worse. I sighed. I hope Ianite understands there was nothing I could do to save her other self.

So, I started the story at its beginning. At first there were frequent interruptions, and Andor had to clarify a point or two about what happened in the ten years before we arrived in Ruxomar. Then Dianite shushed them all, nodding for me to continue. Even Tony and Josh were paying close attention to the story. They and Nade laughed hysterically when they heard how Tom blew up the castle gate but couldn't find the jail until I helped him. Meanwhile Tom grumbled and crossed his arms.

That was the hardest thing I'd ever done, telling our alternates that everyone they knew—aside from those gathered here—was gone. By the time I finished with us jumping through the portal with the world collapsing around us day had surrendered to night. Champ lit torches and closed the tunnel doors while I wrapped up. In the silence that followed, I could hear zombies and creepers moving around outside.

Most of our friends had taken a seat on the ground while I talked, and someone had fetched Spark a chair. Jeriah's face was frozen in shock as he processed. Spark had been stunned as well, but had quickly sunk into grief for the ruin of his family, town, and world. Alyssa leaned against the deactivated Nether portal, deep in brooding thought. She could barely remember her early years in Ruxomar, though she had been good friends with Amelia. Nade, Josh, and Tony were in a hushed conference about something. The gods showed no emotion outwardly, though I had a strong suspicion they too were coming to terms with my account, specifically their alternates' roles.

The silence was broken by Spark, "I think some part of me knew. These last few months... I got a definite feeling that I wouldn't see Ianite again. I thought it was my time that was running short though..." He gave a soft laugh as he ran his thumb over the small eye of ender set in the grip of his cane. "She always did want to see the worlds. I guess she finally got her wish."

Other small discussions started up then, and we subconsciously started segregating ourselves into groups by what god we followed. Martha, Andor, and I gathered around where Spark still sat, and Ianite joined us for introductions. Tom, Mot, Dianite, Alyssa, Nade, Josh, and Tony were off in one corner, no doubt plotting some prank to welcome the rest of us back to the neighborhood. Mianite, Jeriah, Tucker, Sonja, and Gaines were talking with Champ and Dec. Wag was standing awkwardly off to one side, not belonging to any group. I frowned for a moment, wondering what happened to the other wizards. Wag said their tower was missing.

Martha too noticed Wag standing by himself and called him over to join us. Wag grinned shyly and slid into the opening between Martha and I. Spark eyed him cautiously, but smiled when he saw the look on Martha's face as she glanced at the wizard. "So, when's the wedding?" He asked teasingly. Martha's face turned bright red, and Wag's grey skin paled. They both stammered hopelessly trying to deny what was obvious. I couldn't resist laughing at the sight, and I heard Spark's slightly raspy voice echo my own. Andor just looked uncomfortable. "And how about you, Endor? Find a sweetheart while I was gone?"

Andor's eyes barely shifted in the direction of Alyssa where she stood beside Nade and Tom. "Uh...no, no one. I wasn't really looking."

"Why don't you tell them what you've been up too?" Ianite suggested, steering the conversation to something less embarrassing for everyone.

Spark shrugged. "I've been rebuilding Ianarea and visiting that Redbeard fellow in Aethoria. (Nice guy, but he needs to get out more.) Both places are still pretty rough, but some people have started moving back in. A few Ianitees were out on voyage when Dianite attacked the town. They're still mobile, and they bring more men and supplies home with each venture. The community may be self-sufficient again in a few years." The conversation then turned to Martha and Spark discussing the pros and cons of different forms of government that he was thinking about for Ianarea.

I was content to sit back and observe as they went at it. Neither of them wanted a repeat of what happened with Helgrind and Dagrun. Even Andor tossed in a few suggestions and observations he'd made in his travels. I'd have to ask him about those adventures later.

I smiled as I looked over to where the others appeared to be getting along—mostly. Mot and Josh Modestep looked like they wanted to murder each other. Considering they were Dianitees, I was pretty sure that qualified as team building.

I was just happy we had all made it. Yes, there was still going to be the issue of who was whose champion and housing arrangements and many other problems to address later. But right now I was thankful for the small things.

It was the small things we took for granted and often overlooked, but it was also the small things we missed the most when they were gone. We were alive, and we were home. Small reunions with loved ones and those we never thought we'd see again made all the heartache seem worth it for a moment.

I felt a light hand rest on my shoulder and turned to see Ianite beside me. She nodded her agreement with my thought, and we continued to watch the others. I memorized each face and how those of my friends' had changed in the ten years we were gone and wondered how much we had changed in their eyes. I entertained myself with thoughts of what purges must have looked like with Josh, Tony, and Nade inevitably ganging up on Dec and Champ, though I supposed that Jeriah and maybe even Alyssa had participated at some point. Spark probably hadn't if he'd been staying out at Ianarea, even if he had been physically able to compete. I wasn't going to say that out loud though; I had a feeling that cane could do some damage.

I was brought from my imaginings by Tom suddenly appearing before me, grinning from ear to ear. The Dianitees had raided Dec's cellar and brought out a round of something undoubtedly alcoholic. I accepted a mug and grinned back, immediately deciding it wasn't safe to drink. Once everyone had their mugs Tom called for a toast. "To friends old and new and to the Realm of Mianite!"

I played along—pretending to drink—and silently made a toast of my own, Here's to the next adventure.