Author's Note: It's... It's over 3,000. Why do I keep doing this to myself? Don't get me wrong though, I love this AU. 

 Enjoy the oneshot part. There's one more to go before the AU focuses on a different pair.

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 Grian's POV:

 " Grriiiiaaaan! Sleepy lizaarddd!" Scar's voice purred in my ears. I let out a soft grumble as I dug my face further into the nest. 

 " GGGGrrrriiiaaan!" Scar chimed again as my tail thrashed. A low growl escaped from my throat as my ears twitched. Scar let out a sigh and moved part of the nest away in order to let the morning sun in. 

 " Hhhssss!" I hissed and curled up until my eyes were shielded by my wings.

 I heard Mumbo let out a grumble, " Grian, come on, we need to find the rest of Boatem." he mumbled, " I've got some breakfast ready." 

 My ears twitched as I shook my head causing the rest of me to wiggle. 

 It seems like it wasn't a bad dream. It's all real. We really were trapped in a simulation, and now we're in this strange world.

 As I thought, the smell of beef -the food not the man- reached my nose and caused it to twitch. Slowly, I moved my wings away from my face and barely opened an eye. The blurry thing of food swung in front of my face.

 " Rrrr..." I grumbled as I slowly pulled my hand out from under me and grabbed the food. Slowly, I forced myself to sit up and yawned before shoving the breakfast into my mouth and chomping on it.

 After eating, I took my glasses out and put them on with a yawn. My tail twitched again as I looked over at Scar as he happily sat beside me. 

 A frown crossed my face as I let out another grumble before pushing myself up until I was sitting upright. Scar smiled brightly as he scooted over me and leaned against me and wrapped his arms around me.

 " How'd you sleep, G?" Mumbo questioned from the far side of the room. I looked up from the hug and shrugged, " Better than in the Simulation." I awkwardly chuckled as my ears twitched. Mumbo also let out a small, equally awkward, chuckle as he played with his slightly unbuttoned dress shirt and rolled up sleeves.

  Once Scar and I stopped hugging, and Scar stopped resting his head on my shoulder, I stood up and shook my wings out despite not having to worry about feathers anymore.

 " So, how'd the two of you sleep?" I questioned as I adjusted my clothes and began to store the nesting material into my bag. My tail twitched as I listened to the two:

 " I slept pretty well... You two are pretty warm." Scar smiled as he petted Jellie behind her ears.

 " I slept alright...? I mean, these wings feel incredibly strange..." Mumbo answered as he crossed his arms. The hermit glanced back as his wings stretched out slightly before brushing against the large shelves in the room.

 Instantly, Mumbo brought his wings close to himself and shuddered. Stifling a laugh, I walked over to the hermit and patted him on the shoulder. I looked up at Mumbo as he stared down at me with his purple eyes.

 His glowing, purple eyes.

 My ears lowered as I abruptly turned away from the hermit, " S-So Gentlemen!" I crossed my arms over my chest, " W-We're heading towards the factory and the palace today, right?" I questioned.

 Scar gave me a confused expression from the floor.

 " There's a factory? and a palace?" Scar questioned with a tilt of his head. I nodded as I helped the hermit move to a chair. I nodded my head, " Yeah, I spotted them when I-I uh... I rescued Mumbo." I explained with a small cough.

 Mumbo let out a soft 'hmm'. 

 Against the goosebumps forming on my skin and the growing dread, I looked up towards Mumbo.

 " W-What's up?" I questioned as Mumbo eyes stopped glowing, " I'm just wondering about how we're going to get to those locations..." he put his hand to his chin.

 My tail twitched as I motioned to his wings, " We teach you to fly, of course." 

 Mumbo's eyes widened as his feathers ruffled; the hermit blinked a couple of times, " T-That's absurd, Grian!" he squawked, " I can't learn to fly in the matter of minutes!"

 I smirked at him, " 'Course you can Mumbo! It's like relearning to walk." I told him as I moved back over to him. Mumbo shook his head and moved back. 

 My tail twitched as I took down the barricade on the broken window; the cool, morning air quickly rushed into the room causing Mumbo's wings to open. A soft churr escaped from Mumbo as the hybrid stuck his tongue out. 

 Eventually, Mumbo shook his head and blinked a couple of times. Mumbo let out a shaky breath, " T-That was strange." he mumbled. I smirked again and gently took Mumbo's hand. Mumbo looked down at me and tilted his head. 

 This time, however, his eyes didn't glow.

 " I-I suppose that I do want to... t-try flying." Mumbo mumbled as his feathers fluffed up. I looked towards Scar as his eyes lit up, " Ooo! We could do it on the balcony!" he grinned. My tail twitched as I looked back at the hermit.

 " How did you know about the balcony if you've been up here?" I questioned as Scar pointed to Mumbo, " He told me about the place while you were still asleep." he answered. I nodded my head, " Well, let's head down there, then." 

 After carrying both Scar and Jellie to the balcony that Mumbo and I originally entered on, our little group looked out at the rising sun. I let out a shaky breath and stretched my arms out. 

 It felt good to be outside.

 The feelings of the eyes on me weren't there this time around.

 I looked to Mumbo and frowned: The hermit's eyes were glowing again as he began to look around. Mumbo's feathers ruffled as his breathing began to worsen.

 Slowly, I put my hand against Mumbo's shoulder and ran my hand across it. The hybrid looked at me and let out a shaky breath.

 " Y-You're alright, Mumbo." I whispered. 

 Mumbo's feathers remained fluffed up as he turned towards me. I nodded my head and wrapped my arms around the hermit and rubbed at his back. Mumbo let out a soft whimper.

 " Don't think about the eyes... Just focus on me and Scar." I told him as I slowly pulled away. When I did, I looked up at Mumbo as his eyes stopped glowing and shifted from purple to a dark gray. Which while not being his normal, Other World color, it was still his MC-skin's normal color:

 It was progress...

 and this progress was enough.

 My tail twitched as Mumbo let out a shaky breath. 

 " Are you ready? We don't have to do this... We can find a way through the trees, and I can scout ahead." I told him as I motioned into the great unknown of this amplified world.

 Mumbo looked out into the trees and looked back towards Scar; Who had been leaning against the now closed door and cuddling Jellie. Scar looked up at Mumbo and shrugged his shoulders, " Do what makes you comfortable, man." he gave Mumbo a reassuring look as he spoke.

 Gently, Mumbo's moved until his hands were in mine. My tail twitched as we both nodded at each other.

 " Ready to see some cool stuff, Scar?" I smirked back at the hermit as he immediately nodded: his eyes lighting up like bright torches.

 " Follow my lead." I told the mustached hermit as he took in a shaky breath. The, with a flap of mine and Mumbo's wings, we slowly rose into the air. 

 Mumbo looked around and took in a deep breath; his wings flapped as he looked around the tree covered land.

 " This is.... This is quite overwhelming..." Mumbo whispered as I began to lead him around and showed him how to catch the wind with his wings. 

 " How far do you think it goes on for?" Mumbo questioned as he looked around and flapped his wings again. 

 " It's hard telling..." I mumbled as we continued to move around the wide open space. Eventually, Mumbo was able to fly quite decently on his own, and I didn't even need to hold his hand anymore. Still, it wasn't that good of an idea for him to be doing tricks and stuff. 

 When we returned to the balcony, Scar began clapping, " It was pretty rusty, but that went quite well." he grinned. I nodded my head, " Yeah, him already knowing how to fly with an elytra takes out some of the other steps." 

 Mumbo tilted his head, " Other... steps?" he questioned as I nodded, " Being afraid of heights and sickness, awareness of surroundings, and sickness." I listed. Mumbo blinked a couple of times then nodded.

 Scar cleared his throat, " So, now that flight lessons are over..." he looked out in the direction of the palace then the other way towards the factory, " What now?" he tilted his head.

 What now?

 Honestly, that's a good question...

 I opened my inventory as my tail twitched. Despite the progress that was made with Mumbo's flying, I doubt that he could support carrying Scar or Jellie. Well, weight wise, he could support Jellie; however, the man owns a dog... not a cat. 

 My tail twitched as a small smirk formed on my face. Luckily, in Mumbo's adventure in building us a nest, he found something quite useful.

 Dramatically, I yanked the tarp out of my bag and grinned as Mumbo moved back; a small squawk escaping from his mouth.

 " W-What's that for?" Mumbo questioned as I laid the tarp down onto the balcony. My tail wagged as Mumbo followed behind me. As I helped Scar and Jellie onto the tarp, Mumbo began to put the pieces together, " W-Wait, you actually want me to carry this? B-But, is this really a good idea?" he put his hands together as his nails began to sharpen.

 I looked up at him and frowned, " Mumbo, you only have to carry this for a little while. Once, we find Pearl, then you can stick to normal flying." I told him. Mumbo's feathers fluffed up as he nodded his head.

 " Are you ready, Scar?" I questioned as Scar nodded and leaned down to Jellie, " Are you ready, Jellie girl?" he whispered as Jellie mrrped and snuggled against Scar. I motioned to Mumbo and pointed to one end of the tarp. Once Mumbo was in position, I picked up the other end.

 It was a bit of a rocky start at first. A lot of panicking came from everyone, including Jellie, in our little group. But still, we eventually managed to make it into the sky and headed towards the ruined palace on the mountain.

 ((A few hours of flying later brought to you by Scar singing))

 The red, black, and grey building slowly came into view through the large trees and snow that covered it.

 I could feel my teeth begin to chatter as my wings flapped.

 Come on Grian. Just a little bit father.

 I thought to myself. 

 When we reached the entrance to the build, Mumbo and I slowly lowered ourselves to the floor and set Scar and Jellie's tarp down.

 As I shoved the tarp back into my bag, Mumbo scooped Scar up. Scar let out another soft, happy noise. I looked down at Jellie as she meowed and moved towards me. With a small nod, I scooped the cat up.

 " Shall we?" I tilted my head as the two men nodded. Cautiously, I led the way into the building. The large, open hall led to a spiral staircase. I looked around the walls and stopped at a stained glass window.

 " What did you stop for, G?" Mumbo questioned as he stopped next to me. My tail twitched as I moved Jellie to my shoulder then pointed up to the window. Quickly, Mumbo and Scar followed my finger and gasped at the sight:

 A giant moon with the visage of a woman with closed eyes was above us; The woman's brown, short hair seemed to flow despite it being glass. 

 My tail twitched as I moved closer to the window. I crossed my arms and closed my eyes.

 Snf.

 Snfsnf.

 My nose twitched as I picked up a strange scent.

 Flowers. No, it wasn't just flowers; there was bread too... Freshly baked bread. 

 I opened my eyes and found myself standing directly in front of a broken part of the window; a part so small that the normal eye wouldn't be able to see it.

 I glanced at Jellie as her nose twitched too, " You smell it too, Jellie?" I questioned as the cat's ears twitched in confirmation. My tail twitched as I took out my pickaxe, " You probably should get down." I told the cat as she immediately climbed down my back without touching my wings.

 " What does your dragon nose smell, Grian?" Scar questioned as I stuck my tongue out at him. 

 " Flowers... and bread?" I tilted my head as I raised my pick into the air and swung it into glass.

 CRACK!

 SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

 A good portion of the window shattered to the ground. A violent rush of cold wind caused everyone, including Jellie, to tense up. 

 When I reopened my eyes, I stared at the broken stain glass window as my ears lowered. My tail twitched as I laughed awkwardly, " I wasn't expecting that." 

 Mumbo and Scar looked at each other then shook their heads. 

 " I'll go check it out... You guys stay here in case anything comes out to try and kill us." I waved my hand and flapped my wings in order to climb into the broken window. Mumbo blinked, " W-Wait what?!" he yelled as I already crawled through the window. 

 Despite the light that came through the window, the room beyond it was almost pitch black. My ears twitched as I followed the lights, that looked like stars, above me. 

 My nose twitched as I picked up on the scent again; this time, it was much stronger. As I walked through the secret, hollow hall of the palace, something new greeted me. 

 Instead of steady breaths, it was soft purrs and the occasional grumble. 

 I followed the new sounds until the darkness began to become overshadowed by light: A blue light with twinkling lanterns that rose and fell with magic. 

 My tail twitched again as I passed through a gateway and into a circular room with a giant crescent moon shaped bed in the center. I moved closer to the bed and carefully moved the veil that surrounded it to the side. 

 'Sleeping' upon the bed, Pearl's body was curled up. But, there was something off about Pearl that didn't fit how Mumbo, Scar, and I were:

 Pearl didn't have the goggles.

 " P-Pearl?" I questioned as I reached out and touched her shoulder. A low grumble escaped from the hybrid as her tail thrashed.

 " Pearl, are you awake?" I questioned again, this time for forceful, as I shook her shoulder. Pearl let out another hiss as her eyes slowly opened. The hermit slowly looked up at me as her ears twitched.

 A small puff of smoke came from Pearl's nose as she slowly stretched out. Upon doing so, I took notice of the chains that were around her wrists. 

 " G-Grian?" Pearl mumbled, " W-What happened... to you, Mumbo, n' Scar?" she questioned as I kneeled down and took my sword out. Pearl's ears went back as I tried to break the chains. 

 My tail thrashed, " Honestly, I have no clue... I just know that we were all trapped within a simulation of some kind." I explained. Pearl tilted her head, " Huh, kind of like what you did to Grumbot?" she yawned as I freed one of her arms.

 I blinked.

 Right.

 Wait...

 " This is only similar... M-Mumbo and I did that simulation in order to help Grumbot..." I told her with only the smallest stutter. Pearl stared at me as I freed her other arm and helped her stand.

 " C-Come on, let's get out of here. We still need to find Impulse. " I mumbled as Pearl braced herself against me. Pearl let out a sigh as she wrapped her arm around my shoulders. 

 Carefully, the two of us walked back through the hall as Pearl looked around. The dragon hybrid frowned as she moved closer to me; I could feel her breathing tighten as her ears went back.

 " I... I don't even remember how I ended up there..." Pearl mumbled, " I just remember something taking a weird pair of goggles off of my face." 

 I briefly stopped walking. My ears perked up.

 Something took the goggles? 

 I looked at Pearl and frowned, " What took your goggles?" I questioned as she tiredly shrugged her shoulders. Pearl leaned her head against my shoulder, " I don't know, Grian... I just know that they... they put me back to sleep."

 " Can you still fly?" I questioned as we started walking again. Pearl blinked, " I think so? My wings are quite sore though." 

 I nodded my head again. Eventually, we reached the window, and I helped the hermit over the threshold. With a flap of my wings, I climbed through the window and sat down on the sill. 

 " We'll rest here for a little bit... Eat some dinner." I told the three as they all looked at each other then nodded. Pearl's tail twitched as she sat down.

 As Mumbo began to set up a small camp and began cooking some porkchops, I helped Pearl sit on the floor. Pearl let out a soft snuffle as she leaned against me. 

 Eventually, Scar moved over to me and leaned against the wall. As we sat there, I told Mumbo and Scar about what I saw beyond the window.

 " What about Pearl?" Scar questioned as he scratched at the stubble on his face; the hermit frowned as he moved to petting Jellie. 

 " She hasn't really told me anything." I lied as Pearl yawned and took the food that Mumbo handed her. Pearl's tail curled around her lower body as she began munching on her thing of pork.

 " Are you sure?" Mumbo questioned as he gave Scar and Jellie their piece of food. I nodded my head as I took my portion of food and began eating it. Gently, I put my wing around Pearl as she yawned again.

 Our little group sat in the silence and warmth of both our company and fire. 

 Hopefully, we can find Impulse before nightfall. 

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