Hello Everyone! Today I grace you with the wonderful art of Miesall. This was drawn by a reader by the name of N0ALIS! Honestly, it's a pretty accurate drawing of him and it's overall pretty neat to see. (I swear I get so excited whenever I see fan stuff of my work. It really makes it feel like it comes to life that way.)

Also this next chapter or two will have a lot of time skips. I hope that you don't get too much of whiplash--

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Another sleepless night. Grian found himself staring at the outdoors, through something akin to a window but there was no such thing in this pirate cove. The moon was at its peak, and since it was full it allowed the ocean to glimmer just a bit. The others — Scar and Cub— had long since fallen asleep. Last he had checked, they were cuddling in each other's arms on the beds they had pushed together, covered by a few blankets.

He only sighed, laying his head against the wall. He wished he could join them. He certainly was tired enough to, but he just didn't feel like sleeping. A nightmare was sure to greet him, and he couldn't be bothered to put himself through it that night.

How long has it been since he had become a Hermit? He counted in his mind, recalling the events that had occurred since then to help.

His first prank on Mumbo... he hadn't even really remembered how good it felt to prank someone until he was partway through with it. He had nearly forgotten how many pranks he used to pull in the old days of Evo. He hadn't really pulled any on anyone but Mumbo and maybe Scar, but he was slowly gaining confidence to dabble with the others. Sure he looked human...ish, but it was dabbling in these little things he could never possibly think to do as a Watcher that really made him feel human again. 

Finding his own place in this world was difficult, but he thought that now, he was beginning to find his way. Between founding Sahara with Mumbo, building a successful shop and venturing out to talk to people who weren't exclusively named Jumbo, he was growing to truly call this place home now. That was one thing the temple never had been for him.

He had even gone as far to make up his own game! The Grian Head Hunt had just begun, and everyone seemed more excited about it than he was.

It had been about four months now, he realized.

He began to recall how he had started using his wings again for another game he had created. His thoughts however, had been interrupted by a sudden hand resting itself on his shoulder. He turned, finding Scar's green eyes peering up at him. The man was in his pjs, his socks and shoes missing. He must've gotten back in his chair and rolled up without Grian's notice.

"You should sleep, Grian." He whispered, moving to rest his cheek against the avian's side. "It's late."

"I... don't feel like it, Scar." He admitted. That was right, he had begun to break out of the blatant truthfulness the Watchers had ingrained in him. He could lie if if he tried hard enough to, though it still was almost painful to. In any case, he found little reason to be intentionally deceitful to these wonderful people.

Scar only closed his eyes, humming softly to himself in understanding. The quiet of the night put a soft tone in the atmosphere that both of them could feel. "Still G.., you don't want the phantoms after you, do you? And besides, you need your rest..."

"I'll be fine." A lie, most likely. He had to once again remind himself that didn't matter here, even as Scar's eyes showed disbelief.

"Fine then... I guess I'm staying up with you then~" was Scar's sing-song reply. His voice was as smooth as ever.

"I don't want you getting sick again." Grian only frowned. In the short time he was here, Scar had bedridden twice, each for at least a week. Cub had told him that this was quite normal for Scar and tried to assure him that it was no big deal, but he couldn't help but feel bad anyway. After all... it wasn't like he wasn't responsible for Scar's condition after all.

"Funny," Scar only breathed, his green eyes glittering in the torchlight. "I didn't want you getting sick either." He chuckled softly, a warm smile showing.

"But—"

Scar cut him off with a shake of his head. "My body may be weaker than yours, but I can handle a late night just about the same as you can." He replied, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly, almost as if to say that he didn't need protecting. That was, unless Grian did as well.

The look was enough for the ex-Watcher to stare at him, considering this for a few moments. "How about a game of stat poker, then?" He asked at last. His godson gave a smirk, saying,

"You're on, Grian."

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As much as Grian knew he should sleep, he often found himself pushing it off like that night. Evenings brought about a phantom army for him, and overall, he just wished the night would have never have to exist at all.

He wiped the sweat off his brow, standing up from where he had been placing blocks. The sun was just beginning to set, brilliant colors beginning to light the sky now. He internally sighed, wiping off the bits of terracotta that cling onto his trousers.

Once again, he had worked from sun up to sun down, minus breaks to share a meal with his neighbors. Time passed quickly like that; building really helped him keep his mind off things. Though as much as he wanted to keep going, he knew he should take another break, if not call it for the night entirely.

He opened his wings and flew out to get a better view of the structure that was only just beginning to look like a building. He still wasn't keen on his wings, but after using them for a prank or two, he had to admit, they were useful. Not to mention, the feeling of wind rustling through his feathers did feel nice as well... he hated to admit it, but he may have rediscovered his love of flying.

His build was coming along so far. He had indeed made a lot of progress since that morning.

Satisfied, he had begun to slowly make his way back down, but that was when a glint in the sky caught his eye. He thought that it might have been a shooting star at first, but it seemed a bit too early to see one of those yet. Turning his attention to the point where he had seen the flash of light, he gasped.

Standing there was a pillar of red. It was similar to that of a beacon, but it was quickly growing. His body shook with adrenaline, unsure of what that could possibly mean but his instincts took ahold, beginning to fly as fast as he could away.

What was that? Was— was the barrier broken? Was that the firewall caving in on itself?

He took a shuddering breath, pushing him beyond his limits, speeding along like a bullet. He hadn't even realized that he had opened one of his Watcher eyes, watching hopelessly in third person as the red light was gaining on him.

A hundred blocks. Fifty blocks. Twenty. The gap was shortening quickly. Five. Two. One.

Just as it was about to touch the very edge of his shoe, it all vanished, almost as though it was an illusion. Grian beat his wings backwards, trying to slow himself to a stop. He had been going so fast that it took a good hundred blocks, but he did manage to hover eventually.

His heartbeat pounded throughout his entire being, alarm ringing loudly in his ears and tracing all throughout his bloodstream.

"What... what was that...?" He asked out loud, his breath labored as he looked towards where it had come from: spawn. Nothing looked out of place anymore, but his gut told him to keep flying. To hide. That this was the end, the Watchers had come to collect him and then destroy this world out of sheer vengeance.

Why had he been so stupid? Thinking he could hide from the eyes of the all seeing? From one of the strongest, most powerful forces in the entire universe?

And the Hermits! He had doomed them!

... the Hermits. His friends— no, his family. They had adopted him as their brother. Their faces flashed in the back of his mind. Mumbo, smiling in such a way that his mustache covered part of it. Scar, the way he smirked, a devilish glint in his eye. The way Cub stood beside his chair, a similar glint in his own. Xisuma, his arms crossed over the pile of bumbling idiots. False sticking her tongue out as she walked backwards over the edge of a cliff, daring him to join her in a flight around the server. Zedaph with his head down, charging full force at Tango, who couldn't help but yell in laughter in anticipation. A campfire lighting up TFC's face, setting the scene for one of his great tall tales.

These people, they were to wonderful. As much as his heart shrunk in anxiety, he knew his conscious would never forgive him if he ran, leaving the others to take the fall after all they had done for him.

It was settled then: he had to go. He forced his wings into motion, headed to the origin of the beam. Recognizing two of his eyes had opened now, he decided to use them. He sent them on ahead.

He wasn't sure what he was expecting, but standing there already was a group of Hermits in a semi-circle. Mumbo Jumbo was there, along with Joe, False, Jevin, Tango and Cleo.

Xisuma stood in front of them all, almost protectively. His stance was dangerous, one that was expecting to defend against a serious fight. His sword was at the ready, though he did not attack. He was glaring dangers into another. This person, their face obscured in a red suit and helmet much like X's, did not yield a weapon. They were a stranger to Grian, and watching how the Hermits nearly cowered in place, he could tell instantly that this wasn't certainly a surprise visit from an old friend. Not the Watchers either, for that matter. He wanted be relieved at that realization, but the questions that were then left him still drowning in anxiety.

Nearing the area, Grian pointed himself downwards, rocketing himself to the ground. Even through the movement, he could feel his body nearly vibrating with nervousness. As he stuck a safe landing at the last moment, he held his mouth, feeling a wave of nausea pass through him. He doubted it was the flying— he had stuck many landings like that before. But regardless of the cause, he crept behind the wall of Hermits. He blended right in, especially since he saw Impulse coming in from a distance, as well as Scar, xB, and really — all of the Hermits were on their way.

"You dare come back here after what you've done?" Xisuma hissed, though his tone was level and clear. It was through his stance alone that he communicated that he was dangerous.

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm just here to have some fun." The red introducer only chuckled. "It was just a few pranks is all, Brother. No need to be so uptight."

"Uptight?" Xisuma asked, offense licking in his calm tone. "You tried to destroy the server!"

Grian sucked in a breath at this exclamation. Just who was this person claiming to be X's brother? He shivered a bit, finding himself reaching out and grabbing Joe's arm to ask.

Thankfully, Joe seemed to understand. "That's Evil Xisuma, X's evil counterpart." He whispered back. "They were born as twins, but..." it must have been a glitch, or maybe a cruel joke of the universe itself.

The one who seemed to be Xisuma's brother gave a bit of a nervous chuckle. "Like I said, it was a prank! I was just trying to scare you a bit is all, no harm no fowl."

Grian could feel X's glare, even though he was at his back. "There was plenty of harm, Brother. And you're telling me you've come to bring more?"

"Nothing more than the little pranks you surely pull on each other." Ex replied, his voice nearly too calm. His brother didn't buy it for a moment.

"Do you remember what I told you when I kicked you from Hermitcraft last time?" He hissed. It was clear that he very well had gotten tired of this conversation long before Grian had arrived.

Ex took a step back. "Brother, you wouldn't." He gasped. "I haven't even done anything! Don't you remember that we're brothers? Don't you remember what I did for you?" His words were enough for X to pause now.

"Nothing good!" A voice yelled from the crowd watching from the side lines. It was someone Grian didn't recognize; must be one of the whitelisted players. Not a Hermit, but maybe at one point. Or perhaps, it was a friend. He was short in stature with small eyes, and he had tied a red bandana around his forehead.

"Bdubs is right... Don't listen to him, X." Tango spoke up, stepping forward. His hair was flaming dangerously, blowing with the wind. He too had taken ahold of a diamond sword, ready to defend if needed. "All of these years... he's been nothing but trouble. He's pure evil! Nothing but trouble!"

X looked at this Bdubs fellow, then at Tango. His stance had changed from one that was strong, feet planted firmly on the ground, to one that was rather unsure of itself. His shoulders tensed in on himself, and his once open legs were against one another.

The void then turned to one last Hermit: Joe. "My dear friend..." he began, his tone suddenly soft. The look he gave was a look one would only give to the best of friends, ones that one would believe full heartedly, to such an extent that one would race to jump off a cliff if they had good reason to. And in response to that look of absolute trust and faith, Joe gave a slow and grave nod.

Even though Grian wasn't entirely sure what that had meant, he understood all the same: whatever Ex had done, it was worth doing it. What 'it' was... that's what he didn't know. It was a grave, damning decision and he wasn't informed enough to know if it was justified. If the Hermits thought— the very ones who would take in a stranger and call them family— reacted so negatively, they probably had good reason to.

"Brother!" Ex hissed yet again. "You can't be serious! After all we've been through? After what I did for you?! You'd chose their words over mine?"

Said brother couldn't bear to even look at the one who spoke those words. His gaze fell to the ground; it was seemingly too much for him to even look at the man with a helmet now. "Then it shall be done."

He forced himself to lift his head up, beginning to tap on his communicator. Above the screen appeared three separate projections, much larger than that of the tiny screen of the com. Rows upon rows of text were on each one. The void dug deeper, the writing changing into galactic letters that Grian was all too familiar with now. This was deep into the code, where only an admin could not only decipher but alter it without something going terribly wrong.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?!" Ex yelled, watching in dismay as he watched his own brother do his work. He sounded anything but. "Is that what you wanted to hear? I can't believe you'd ban me! What was even the purpose of this place if it weren't for us?! Tell me!"

The admin only turned his back, choosing to look at the future — his friends— over the past — his brother. The blue holograms turned red in one last warning, the system alerting him how grave and permanent the decision would be.

Xisuma looked into the eyes of each of his friends as his brother continued to shout in protest. Or at least, most of them. Grian couldn't help but notice how the void had (perhaps subconsciously) passed him. He couldn't blame the man; after all, he was the only one without determination in his eyes. Just... confusion, and uncertainty. But unlike X's, his held no pain.

"Goodbye, Ex." Xisuma whispered at last, his semi-hidden eyes closing as he hit the confirm button. Ex's shriek could be heard all throughout the world, his body turning a pure white before exploding, the pieces of him vanishing as the ban took ahold of him.

What was left was silence. Silence, and nearly all the Hermits collected in one spot. Time seemed to freeze, everyone watching as their admin stood there, unmoving, waiting to see what he would do. As much as Grian wanted to ask what all had happened between them and this Ex for them to suddenly turn so cold-hearted, so sure to reject him, he knew this was not the time.

And indeed, a few moments later, the void child collapsed to his knees as he began to let out a series of sobs.