Sleep was not finding Grian tonight.

After stocking his small furnace array, Grian decided to go to bed. He knew he should probably be checking the server for Alova's 'gift' but he had yet to sense anything odd. It was probably just a bluff anyway.

But every time he closed his eyes he saw the same nightmarish scene that had plagued him for years. Usually, he could just ignore them, push them to the back of his mind but this time was different.

Grian had had trouble sleeping ever since the start of the season. It was one of the newest members that were putting him off; Pearlescent Moon. An amazing builder, she without a doubt, deserved to be there.

But why her?

An Evolutionist of all people.

What were the chances?

He could still remember the first night of season 8. She had been kind enough to wait until they were alone.

"So this is where you've been hiding!" Her tone was stern yet triumphant, as if she'd finally caught a naughty child red-handed. Her face fell in his silence, "I hope you're happy, we were all so... confused... I don't even know if that's the right word." A pause, he probably should have spoken but his mouth wouldn't open. "You had the nerve to just up and disappear like that! You promised you'd be there to protect us! You lied-"

Grian found his arms wrapped around her. Holding her tightly. She stopped her angry rant to stare at the top of his head.

"I... I'm sorry. I never wanted to leave.... They made me... They forced me." Pearl threw her hands around him as his wings joined the embrace. "When I got a chance to come back... well you all just seemed so happy without me there, and I knew if I returned they'd just keep coming back. I couldn't stop them from entering EVO but I could go elsewhere. Please understand that I stayed away to protect you guys."

The night had dissolved into lots of sobbing and many hugs. He knew it was anywhere near good enough to make up for what he'd done. In the morning she had acted as if the terrible things he'd done in the past didn't exist. Like they were old friends again. Like he'd gone on a vacation rather than completely abandoning her.

So why was it making him so nervous?

A tremor shook through the land. To most, this would definitely seem off, Hermitcraft didn't usually get earthquakes but it wasn't unheard of But Grian knew it was so much more than a simple quake.

This was the sound of a new magical force entering his world.

A very real, very large threat to his players

His friends

His family.

This part is short like me lol

I know I said longer parts but I wanted dramatic effect, don't come for me.

Other Chapter titles;

Diving for pearls (Trying for pearl related puns)

Backstory? On our good Christian Minecraft fanfiction endeavour? More likely than you think (could be a random chapter title) (or just a subtitle)

Canonically, waffles can hug

Old pearls still shine

That moment when you and your friend from years ago literally start destroying the world just from being in close proximity

Crying in the eye of a hurricane (extra points for hamilton reference)

One of the last chapters of peace

Word Count: 461

Cheers,

Isabelle