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“It’s been amazing,” Grian took a deep breath as he stepped forward, teetering over the edge of the sandy cliff. His hands were bloody, and his sweater was torn, and when he closed his teary eyes all he could see was his partner, his friend, dead in the sand, covered in both their blood.“Goodbye.” He exhaled, and stepped again, directly off the edge. Air whooshed past him as he fell, his wings wrapped around himself like a hug, and for a split second he felt his brittle bones shatter as he hit the ground.Before he could scream in pain, or react in any way, he felt the pain stop. Grian opened his eyes and looked around. In front of him stood two figures, both easily taller than eight feet and with what looked to be six pairs of wings at first glance. What felt like hundreds of eyes stared at him before closing as the figures nodded and faded away.Grian recognised the two of them, of course he did, but it had been months now since he’d seen them. Months since they’d sent him and the others into the game, to battle to the death. He slowly turned and surveyed his surroundings, endless void in every direction he could see. There was a single bed, a long table, and three beanbags sat on the clear floor, and Grian cautiously approached the table, running his hand along it as if to check it was real.Once he’d confirmed the reality of where he was he turned in a slow circle, looking for someone, anyone. Scar hopefully, but if not him than Scott or Timmy would do also. Grian wouldn’t even be upset if it was Cleo, or maybe Bdubs. But despite how hard he squinted, how much he looked, the void was empty other than him.Grian took a breath and sighed, accepting his fate. It wasn’t the first void room he’d been trapped in, being a watcher meant that since Evo he’d spent years in a similar place. That was more of a castle though, and he always had the other two for company, though they didn’t speak much.But here? Grian was alone.
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“We finally did it!” Scott laughed, titling his head upwards towards the sky as he closed his eyes. He took a moment to breathe, taking in the scent of the forest around him, before he reached for his satchel where a bucket of water was nestled safely into it.“Just me and Binkie.” He let out another laugh, and placed the bucket down on the floor. Scott bent down and kissed the top of the axolotl who’d been residing insides head, and let out another soft laugh. “We finally did it.”Scott then straightened up, taking a deep breath as he climbed the tree next to him. “And now,” he took a step forward, hooves teetering on the edge of the branch he was stood on, “there is only one way…” Scott trailed off as he bent his legs and jumped, but before he could finish or hit the ground he heard lightning strike and his body turned to ash in an instant.He let out a gasp as he felt his body reform a moment later, and his hooves hit the ground. Scott was now stood in a wide space, void surrounding him and some furniture scattered about. The unicorn looked around in surprise, eyes wide as he took in his surroundings.But before he could properly process what he was seeing, his eyes landed on Grian and he tensed, reaching for his bow that he kept slung over his back. To Scott dismay there was no weapon there and he raised his fists instead, warily glaring at Grian.“Hey, woah!” Grian shouted, wings stretching to the side in shock.“What are you doing here?” The two said at the same time and Scott giggled while Grian looked surprised.“I won.” The avian shrugged and his wings folded back into his back. “This is where I ended up afterwards.”“So did I,” Scott said crossing his arms. Grian looked surprised at that, and Scott scoffed in offence.“I’m not shocked you won,” Grian quickly spoke, attempting to diffuse the situation, “I just didn’t expect the next winner to end up here. I thought I was alone.”The unicorn shrugged his shoulders and turned his attention to where he was, taking the chance to properly understand where he was. After a minute of looking around he gave up, turning back to Grian. “Where is ‘here’ exactly?” Scott questioned with an eyebrow raise.“I… don’t know.” Grian answered truthfully, unfolding his wings and soaring up into the air. Scott did a double take, used to his and his friends hybridity not working in the games, but focused on the soaring avian. “It’s relatively empty, a little furniture here and there, but there also doesn’t seem to be an end to it.”He swooped down and landed at Scott’s feet. “I’ve flown for hours in every direction, but I always end up back here. Sometimes there’s a slight change in scenery, I’ve found a desert and forests and plains, even a snowy mountain range, but after that biome ends it’s just void again, and then I end up back here.”Scott stood still, thinking for a moment. After a minute though he’d come up with nothing and shrugged. “I’ve dabbled in magic, obviously, but the void is uncharted territory for unicorns. That’s the gods domain.”The avian looked away at that, guilt flashing onto his face, before he turned back with a returning shrug. “Well, you better get used to it here. It was months before I was dragged back to the games.”Scott merely sighed in response, looking to the beanbags. “Might as well make myself comfortable.”“Wait,” Grian interrupted quickly. “There’s a new bed, it’s got stars on it. I assume it’s for you.” Scott turned to look where Grian was looking, and got confirmation that he was right. A pair of matching beds, the only difference being the sheet colour and the headboard with stars instead of a sun.He laughed at that. “Well, I’ll go get comfy there then.” Grian laughed back, and the two sat on their beds, before starting a new conversation.