Elsewhere in the universe, a young Watcher strode through a wide hallway and out to a courtyard. She didn't like existing anymore. She didn't like the role the Watchers made her play. She wished she had managed to leave with Xelqua. He had always hated the Watchers, much like her. They had planned their escape months ago, but Xelqua was the only one who got through. She had been caught just after making it to the forests of a Raelo called the Dream Realm. Xelqua had tried to help her, but she had warned him off, leading the Watchers away.

The young Watcher looked at her hands. They were stained with blood and covered in ash. She hated the Watchers. She hated what they stood for and what they had done to her and her friends. She hated living in the false sanctuary the Watchers had created for people like her.

Dangerous people like her.

Across the courtyard, an elf with bright red hair was skipping stones on the pond. 

"Taylor?" the young Watcher called. 

The elf glanced over her shoulder at the Watcher. "Pearlescent! What are you doing out of the fortress this late at nigh?"

(Hey! Betsy/the author here! These names aren't canon to the series, they're just for here, in the fortress. Gem's real name is Taylor and I took Pearl's name from her gamertag. Don't pay much attention to it unless you want to.)

"Couldn't sleep," Pearl replied simply.

"Worrying about Xelqua again?" asked Gem, her green eyes flashing with worry.

"And the others," Pearl admitted. She sat down on a boulder overlooking the pond. "Their faces never leave my mind. Their terrified faces haunt my memories."

"I'm sorry you feel that way," Gem said, coming to sit down beside Pearl. "You must really care for them if you think about them even years after losing them."

"Taylor!" a voice called. "Are you assuring Pearlescent without me???" A blue axolotl hybrid shot across the courtyard and jumped into the pond, swimming over to Pearl's rock.

"Hey, Elizabeth," Pearl chuckled. 

(again, only in the fortress. They'll call themselves different names to get a better image later on)

"Stop moping!" Lizzie replied. "You know you can't change the past. Look towards the future."

"Rich, coming from you," Gem huffed. 

"Hey!" Lizzie laughed, splashing the elf with a bit of water.

Pearl knew the two girls always tried to cheer her up in the strange conditions the Watchers kept them in. The reasons those two were here were complicated.

For Lizzie, well.... She was the daughter of an eldritch being called the Great Axolotl. She was also a Godling of the Ocean and Chaos. Her shapeshifting powers were locked off to her, because of the Watchers. They didn't want her to escape, after all. She had lost her boyfriend a long time ago, when she was captured by the Watchers and hadn't seen or heard from him since. She was also the long-lost older sister of Pearl's old friend, Jimmy. Pearl knew Lizzie and Jimmy hadn't seen each other in decades, not even knowing about each other's existence, because they thought one another were dead. Pearl knew about their connection because she used to be a part of the Watchers' schemes, but she hadn't had the courage to tell Lizzie.

Gem was here because she had magical powers the Watchers didn't want out in the world. She could shapeshift, use Admin powers, and cast Wizard-like spells. She was a Wizard-in-training, after all. She was an Admin that had a twin. She had bartered her brother's way out of being captured, but ended up being caught herself. 

And Pearl.... She was there because she was a traitor to the Order. 

                                                                       --------

Grian balanced on the thin bridge he had made that crossed a huge crevice that separated the desert and the forest from the river's side. He made his way across with cat-like agility, keeping himself delicately balanced the whole way across.

He quickly crossed the desert and climbed the stairs he had created, tripping just once. He wondered if someone had mentioned his nickname somewhere. He entered the tower and put the gunpowder he had gathered away. 

A sound at the top of the stairs made Grian look up. 

Scar grinned at Grian and walked over. "Whatcha doing?"

"Putting away deadly powders," Grian answered, turning back to the chests. "You?"

"Nothing right now," Scar said. "Just asking you what you were doing, but now I have an answer. So, now I'm doing nothing but existing."

Grian cocked his head. "Hmm." Something about this scarred elf made him worry.

"What 'hmm?'" Scar asked. "Why is a 'hmm' needed?"

"No reason," Grian chuckled. "You just make me need to 'hmm.'"

Scar barked a laugh, making Grian smile. Few people made him smile these days.

"So, what're we doing now?" Scar asked as Grian finished boxing the explosive materials.

"Not sure," Grian admitted. "I kinda want to visit Tim or Big B."

"Then we can visit them!" Scar offered, striding out the door.

Grian was baffled. Scar has seemed to intimidating at the meet-up. But now....

"You coming?" Scar called, disappearing down the sandy mountain.

"I guess," Grian sighed, but he smiled and rushed after Scar.

Their journey was mostly uneventful. A creeper or two exploded, but none hurt them too much. Eventually, Grian and Scar made it to the passive mob village near spawn.

A few extra buildings had been built close to the village, but none actually inside it. 

Grian called out to Big B, who had been adding to his own base.

Big B nearly fell off the building, but got to the ground safely, more or less. "What are you two doing here?" he asked them.

"Visiting you because Grian wanted to," Scar replied before getting elbowed by Grian.

"I actually just wanted to see a friend," Grian admitted. "But Scar actually went along with it, surprisingly."

"Hmm," Big B chuckled. 

"More 'hmm's," observed Scar, grinning mischievously at Grian.

"You are so frustrating," Grian sighed. 

Scar laughed.

Big B glanced at Grian, confusion in his eyes.

"Do. Not. Ask," Grian said, turning away. "On to see Timmy!"

Big B chuckled, but said nothing as Grian and Scar left him, standing confused in the village.

The next trip was even less eventful. Nothing but a few chickens, which were quickly slain by Joel and his new dog, crossed their path to the flower field where Jimmy had settled.

When they arrived, Jimmy welcomed them. He seemed delighted to see Grian, but a distant look was always on his face, making Grian worry.

"So, who have you teamed with?" asked Scar, looking around the little glade.

"Someone with far better building skills than you," Grian laughed. Then, he skillfully avoided a swipe from Jimmy.

"Actually, an elf," Jimmy said. "Scott. We've built this little place."

"Ah," Scar said. "Scott's actually the first elf I've seen in a long time."

"But aren't you an elf?" Grian asked, glancing at Scar.

"I am, but I haven't seen an elf other than myself in a good while," Scar said. "Now, I have finally found one again!"

"From what Scott has told me about himself, he knows a lot of elves," Jimmy said. "His mother is the queen of the elves, apparently."

"Wait- he lives in the capital?" Scar gasped. 

I'm not very good at ending chapters, but I did my best, alright? :D

Word Count: 1191