((AUTHORS NOTE! I see so many of you thinking Sally is Sally Salmon. She is not. She is from Season 6 and is Poultry Man's Chicken friend! No DSMP stuff here. Sorry guys))

Days turned into weeks, weeks into two months quicker than Grian could have ever imagined.

He sat on top of his build height base and took a deep breath as he watched the skyline overlooking the shopping district and smiled.

His bond with the Hermits had grown stronger as he got to know them better.

He smiled faintly as he remembered the time he spent sharing stories with Scar about... Well, their scars of their pasts.

Then talking with him and Cub about their past and admitting their faults (turns out Cub has killed some people too), and letting the others help carry the weight of their past.

And it turns out the two of them had saved each other. Cub saving Scar from suffocating in a dumpster apparently and Scar having used his powers to save Cub from being killed for his crimes. Turns out Scar is a Siren. But he doesn't like using his voice to hurt people. So that was kind of cool.

He had built up a better relationship with Tango and the two pulled a huge prank on Doc and Ren a while ago. He laughed at the memory.

Iskall had called him over yesterday for some... Tea and Toast.

He grinned, remembering their discussion.

He sighed, watching the sun start to set before taking off towards the district for one last flight before bed.

As he flew he got lost in thought and wasn't paying attention to where he was flying.

He snapped out of it as he noticed a building straight ahead and turned to dodge but his large wing clipped it sending him spiraling to the ground in a heap.

He laid there in the dirt, taking slow breaths as he blinked, trying to stay conscious.

He struggled to stay awake, barely noticing his vision blurring and the scenery changing between the shopping district and a forest or the faint voice calling out to him before he blacked out.

Grian was flying. Flying as fast as he could. As far as he could. He had been for... well. He wasn't actually sure. He hadn't been paying attention. Nor did he notice how exhausted his body was or the tears that had been pouring down his cheeks on and off.

He barely registered the change of altitude of his body as he fell out of the sky from miles high. Or the pain that spread through his body and wings from the impact with the trees then the hard ground. He was staring upward at the trees and sky above him, the sun setting as he laid there, unaware of himself starting to drift into unconsciousness but once he did, tears ran down his face as he welcomed the silent darkness, neither sad nor happy that he might never open his eyes again.

"-ase... Plea-... I can't lose you-... The world isn't ready-... I know you're still hanging on, even if by a thread... Please... Wake up."

Something wet hit his cheek. Like a raindrop.

Grian felt his lungs gasping for a breath of air, his chest lurching as he did. He almost cried out in pain but instead gave a small groan.

He heard a soft cry of relief from beside him and the voice call out again. "Oh thank goodness... I was so worried..."

He tried to open his eyes to see who was there as his body tried to pull away from the voice in fear.

"Oh! No! Please, stay still! You are still injured. I haven't been able to heal everything yet and you will be sore for awhile so please! Rest!"

Grian forced his eyes open but only made a blurred figure. "I promise. You're safe with me. Rest..."

Grian was betrayed by his body's need for sleep and found himself out cold once more.

~~~~~

Grian stirred awake hearing a faint musical noise before gasping and jerking awake.

"Oh! You're up!"

He jerked back when he saw a young woman with platinum blond hair with golden tips in a long flowing white summer dress. Her eyes shimmered golden in the sunlight. "How are you feeling?"

He didn't answer and scooted back a bit.

She seemed to notice this and took a step back. "Ah, right. I'm still a stranger to you... My name is Sally. I'm so glad that you are alright. When I found you here, you were really beaten up and exhausted."

Grian watched her, eyes cautious.

She sighed seeing this but smiled. "Its alright. I won't hurt you. Lunch is almost ready." She moved away giving him distance and sat by the fire, stirring the pot she had sitting over it.

She offered him some a bit later and left it a little ways away for him to get.

Grian slowly moved and took the bowl and went back to his spot. He hesitated before starting to eat, humming at the taste of it making Sally smile more.

~~~~~

A week and a half past and Grian had grown a bit more comfortable around Sally.

She was working on gathering materials for dinner when he hesitantly approached her, still keeping about a five foot distance. "...S-Sally?" The name felt strange but natural on his tongue and she turned to face him, eyes wide with surprise.

"Oh! H-hi..." she greeted. This was the first time he spoke to her.

He shook slightly as he asked her, "...Why?"

She looked confused before realizing. "No life is worth losing, especially one with such beautiful potential."

Grian stared at her in a bit of shock at that answer before hesitating briefly before taking a deep breath. "My... my name is Grian..." his hand shook as he offered it to her.

She stared at him before smiling reassuringly and shook his hand. "It's nice to properly meet you, Grian."

~~~~~

Soon it had been a month since Sally found Grian in the clearing. The two growing closer and getting to know each other better.

Grian explained what kind of hybrid he was but didn't really talk about his past which Sally didn't mind.

It was getting dark out when Sally stood and headed towards a hidden area but Grian saw her. "Sal? Where are you going?"

She turned to him. "Its okay, Grian. I'm just going for more firewood..."

He frowned. "Sally, you look scared."

She hesitated before sighing. "I... come with me..." she led him to the area and sat down. There was a clear view of the sky above them.

"Sally, what's wrong?"

She didn't look at him. "I... I'm so sorry..."

"Sally?" Grian tensed.

"I... it's time you knew about this..." she turned to him. "Grian, I am cursed."

He looked surprised. "What?"

"I have a blood curse. I am a mythical hybrid but I'm cursed to transform against my will. I usually do it at night... but at any given time, I could change... and not change back."

"Sally..."

"I'm sorry, I-"

Grian put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't be. Its not your fault."

She looked up at him before smiling faintly and stepping back. "Well... its time."

He hesitated. "Should I-"

She shook her head. "Stay?"

He nodded. "Of course."

Light surrounded Sally as she transformed, her arms and hands into wings, legs into talons and her long hair into feathers.

Grian shielded his eyes but looked at her when it died down and gasped.

A stunning white Phoenix stood before him, slowly looking up at him.

"Wow... You look gorgeous... in both forms..." he complimented, still in shock.

Sally looked away bashfully.

He slowly approached and sat down beside her. "Want me to keep you company?"

She turned to him and nodded, settling down.

He smiled softly and they gazed at the stars. "...I meant that you know..."

Sally looked at him as he smiled, still watching the stars. "You're incredible... Thank you... for everything."

Sally smiled a little and rubbed against his arm. You're welcome... she thought to herself.

They stared at the stars until they both fell asleep, the sun starting to rise above them.

~~~~~ 

Sally turned back that night and they spent as much time as they could together, having both fallen in love with the other.

But the week came to an end faster than either had wanted it too and with it...

A blue moon.

Grian had noticed Sally having grown anxious but didn't know why until the night started to approach.

"...Grian?"

"Yes, Sal?" He asked.

"I... my curse... it..." she looked scared. "It has the most chance of me staying in my other form... under a blue moon... which is tonight..."

His eyes widened. "Sal-"

"I-I don't want to lose you!" She cried.

"Sally, listen to me," he placed a hand on her cheek and made her look up at him. "Even if it does happen, I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying with you. No matter what. As long as you want me to."

She shook as she clung to him in a hug.

They stayed like that for a while before they moved to the spot where she usually changed.

Grian caught her wrist before she went to sit down. "Sally."

She turned to him. "Y-yes?"

He gave her a reassuring smile. "Trust me when I tell you that I love you. No matter what. No matter your form. I love you all the same."

She let tears fall down her cheeks before hugging him tight one last time, knowing it was the last. "I love you too..." She moved to her spot but was surprised when Grian sat next to her.

He was starting to cry.

Sally was startled slightly by the rumble of thunder and the rain started to pour, seemingly in sink with Grian's crying.

"Don't cry over me, Gri..."

He sniffled as more thunder rumbled. "I have to... you cried for me, I want to cry for you."

They both cried until Sally fully transformed and both just saw in the storm that formed around them as Grian held her close and sobbed.

No one had seen such a powerful and fierce storm in the past 100 years isolated to such a small area. 

~~~~~

The two stayed close even after the transformation, just as Grian said.

He had even learned how to understand her new bird language so they could talk like they would normally.

Another month or so passed before Sally told Grian that she was leaving.

"Wh-what? Where?"

"I am going to search for any ways to reverse this curse. I promise I'll find you if I find anything. I'll try to visit too... but don't wait here for me. Try to find a place to call home. Maybe some friends... explore. I'll always find you."

Grian reluctantly agreed and bid her farewell as they both took off in different directions.

~~~~~

"-ian? Dude, he's not waking up."

"I mean, it looks like he took quite the fall..."

"You did call Xisuma, right?"

"Yeah. He said he'll be here sho- oh! He's stirring!"

Grian groaned as he blinked awake. "Wh-wha??"

"Grian! Thank goodness! You had us worried for a while there hon'!" Stress greeted him.

Iskall nodded. "You okay, dude?"

Grian winced as he sat up on the dirt path. "I...I think so?" He wiped at his eyes, finding tears there and was confused.

"Are you sure? You're crying..." stress pointed out.

Grian quickly brushed it off. "Y-yeah." He stood up, his wings moving stretching behind him. "Th-thanks." And he took off before either of them could stop them and headed to his base, entering the secret room he had built and held back his tears and emotions, refusing to cry until he fell asleep, ignoring the calling of his name from above.